Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Gideon Besson, MD
Critical Care Medicine · Shelby, NC
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Besson from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
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What this data tells you about Dr. Besson
Dr. Gideon Besson is a critical care medicine specialist in Shelby, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Besson performed 5,391 Medicare services across 3,355 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Besson received a total of $825 from 13 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 46 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in critical care medicine. Most payments are for meals and travel — low-value interactions common across virtually all practicing physicians. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Besson is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 2% volume in NC
$825 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,391
Medicare services
Top 2% in NC for critical care medicine
3,355
Unique beneficiaries
$31
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~270 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
611 | $8 | $15 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
567 | $71 | $200 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
494 | $8 | $28 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
462 | $44 | $85 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
456 | $10 | $30 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting between 20 and 29 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
233 | $54 | $150 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
232 | $9 | $40 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
175 | $13 | $48 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
156 | $122 | $250 |
| Advance care planning consultation, first 30 min A session focused on discussing and documenting future healthcare preferences and goals. This service covers the initial 30 minutes of the planning discussion. |
153 | $74 | $175 |
| Manual urinalysis with microscopic examination A urine test performed manually without automated equipment. The sample is examined under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
123 | $4 | $15 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
109 | $8 | $26 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
100 | $16 | $60 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
100 | $8 | $45 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
81 | $22 | $82 |
| Spirometry test before and after medication A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed of your breathing before and after taking a medication. |
75 | $27 | $118 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
70 | $13 | $40 |
| Iron level test | 70 | $6 | $18 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
70 | $9 | $25 |
| Urine microalbumin test (kidney screening) A laboratory test that measures the amount of microalbumin, a small protein, in a urine sample. This test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage. |
68 | $6 | $35 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
68 | $5 | $22 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
66 | $9 | $36 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
65 | $6 | $400 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
64 | $29 | $90 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
61 | $1 | $5 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
60 | $13 | $45 |
| Pulmonary gas exchange test A test to examine how well the lungs exchange gases. |
55 | $38 | $100 |
| Lung volume test using gas dilution or washout A test that measures the amount of air in your lungs by using a gas dilution or washout method. |
53 | $31 | $90 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
43 | $15 | $38 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
42 | $19 | $60 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
39 | $1 | $4 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
38 | $119 | $268 |
| Respiratory virus test for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and RSV A laboratory test that detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in an upper respiratory specimen. |
31 | $140 | $230 |
| 3D screening mammography (tomosynthesis) A screening imaging test of the breast using 3D technology to detect potential abnormalities. |
31 | $50 | $120 |
| Screening mammography An X-ray of the breast used to detect breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. |
31 | $120 | $275 |
| Positive pressure ventilator therapy A therapy procedure that uses a positive pressure ventilator to assist with breathing. |
25 | $47 | $140 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
23 | $4 | $20 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
23 | $8 | $55 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
22 | $38 | $95 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
19 | $31 | $97 |
| Transitional care management, high complexity Coordination of care for a patient transitioning from a short-term hospital stay or other facility to home or another care setting. This service addresses a high-complexity medical problem. |
19 | $208 | $445 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures. |
18 | $35 | $292 |
| Airflow rate measurement test A test that measures the rate of airflow. This procedure assesses how quickly air moves. |
16 | $23 | $75 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
13 | $141 | $770 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
13 | $43 | $137 |
| Normal saline infusion, 250 cc Administration of 250 cubic centimeters of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater fluid. |
13 | $1 | $20 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
12 | $110 | $482 |
| Sleep study with heart rate and breathing monitoring A sleep study that monitors heart rate, breathing, airflow, and physical effort during sleep. |
12 | $69 | $352 |
| Home health plan of care certification Certification by a physician or allowed practitioner for Medicare-covered home health services under a home health plan of care. This includes contacting the home health agency and reviewing reports of patient status required by physicians. |
11 | $36 | $125 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
0.7% high complexity
5.1% medium
94.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2023 ↗$825
Total received (2018-2023)
Avg $138/year across 6 years
Top 45% in NC for critical care medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
13
Companies
46
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$804 (97.4%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$22 (2.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2023
$218
2022
$140
2021
$242
2020
$200
2019
$13
2018
$12
Payments by company (2023)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$100
Amgen Inc.
$100
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$18
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2023 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2023) ›
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$276
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$145
Amgen Inc.
$113
Novo Nordisk Inc
$81
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$44
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$44
United Therapeutics Corporation
$22
Dexcom, Inc.
$21
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$18
AbbVie Inc.
$17
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$15
PFIZER INC.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 64.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Dexcom G6 Transmitter · ELIQUIS · FARXIGA · INVOKANA · NUCALA · NURTEC ODT · OFEV · Ozempic · Rybelsus · SYMBICORT · TEZSPIRE · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TYVASO · UBRELVY · XARELTO · ZIO Patch
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
Most payments (97%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Critical care medicines within 10 mi
10
Per 100K population
10.0
County median income
$55,769
Nearest hospital
ATRIUM HEALTH CLEVELAND
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2023 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Besson is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Besson experienced with blood draw (venipuncture)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Besson performed 611 blood draw (venipuncture) services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Besson receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Besson received a total of $825 from 13 companies across 46 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Besson's costs compare to other critical care medicines in Shelby?
Dr. Besson's average Medicare payment per service is $31. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Besson) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. Data Coverage reflects data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
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