Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Franklin Wefald, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · Smithfield, NC
Practice pattern: Cardiac Imaging
— Practice with significant diagnostic imaging and stress testing
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. Wefald 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. Wefald
Dr. Franklin Wefald is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Smithfield, NC, with 21 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Wefald performed 8,330 Medicare services across 4,216 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Wefald received a total of $9,238 from 59 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 619 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Wefald 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.
✓ 21 years in practice
▲ Top 3% volume in NC
$9,238 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,330
Medicare services
Top 3% in NC for cardiovascular disease
4,216
Unique beneficiaries
$80
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~397 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
1,482 | $89 | $255 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
1,092 | $43 | $75 |
| 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. |
916 | $10 | $45 |
| Technetium Tc-99m tetrofosmin diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of Technetium Tc-99m tetrofosmin used for imaging studies. |
546 | $91 | $310 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
495 | $38 | $220 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
493 | $159 | $599 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
469 | $139 | $451 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
395 | $118 | $446 |
| Limited retroperitoneal ultrasound A focused ultrasound exam of the area behind the abdominal cavity to evaluate specific structures. |
387 | $44 | $300 |
| 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. |
346 | $106 | $569 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
273 | $316 | $1,380 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
273 | $16 | $52 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A test that monitors the heart's electrical activity while the patient exercises or receives medication to increase heart rate. |
273 | $20 | $102 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
271 | $11 | $35 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
144 | $55 | $136 |
| 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. |
106 | $130 | $342 |
| 2-day continuous ECG with review and report A two-day continuous electrocardiogram recording that includes a professional review and written report of the results. |
57 | $47 | $487 |
| Programming of multiple lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with multiple leads to ensure proper function. |
50 | $74 | $477 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
48 | $19 | $246 |
| 30-day continuous ECG with patient-triggered event transmission and review This procedure involves continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days, including the transmission of patient-triggered events. A healthcare professional reviews the data and provides a report. |
48 | $613 | $1,554 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
45 | $58 | $350 |
| Expiratory airflow and volume test A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed at which you can breathe it out. It evaluates lung function by assessing expiratory airflow and volume. |
44 | $19 | $88 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter. |
26 | $115 | $393 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
26 | $41 | $104 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
25 | $8 | $11 |
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.
7.1% high complexity
59.6% medium
33.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$9,238
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,320/year across 7 years
Top 26% in NC for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
59
Companies
619
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
$9,226 (99.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$12 (0.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,569
2023
$1,125
2022
$1,580
2021
$1,561
2020
$1,294
2019
$1,081
2018
$1,028
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$259
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$241
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$152
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$144
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS INC
$134
ABBVIE INC.
$97
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$94
United Therapeutics Corporation
$68
Lilly USA, LLC
$57
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$56
Novo Nordisk Inc
$45
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$38
Amgen Inc.
$34
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
PFIZER INC.
$22
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$21
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$17
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$17
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$16
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$16
Advanced Oxygen Therapy Inc.
$16
Top 3 companies account for 41.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Amgen Inc.
$839
United Therapeutics Corporation
$833
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$673
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$569
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$568
Novo Nordisk Inc
$502
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$379
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$359
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$329
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$325
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$315
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$310
Lundbeck LLC
$254
Lilly USA, LLC
$222
Abbott Laboratories
$214
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$200
PFIZER INC.
$186
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$184
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$150
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$144
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS INC
$134
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$117
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$100
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$97
ABBVIE INC.
$97
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$93
Celgene Corporation
$91
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$86
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$72
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$71
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$60
Baxter Healthcare
$57
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$49
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$47
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$39
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$33
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$33
PolarityTE, Inc.
$30
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$26
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
$24
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
RedHill Biopharma Inc.
$23
AbbVie Inc.
$22
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$21
Eisai Inc.
$20
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$18
InfoBionic, Inc
$18
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$18
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$17
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$17
Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc
$17
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$17
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$16
Advanced Oxygen Therapy Inc.
$16
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$13
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
Circassia Pharmaceuticals Inc
$13
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$12
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 25.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5044) MCOT · ACCRUFER · ACTHAR · AJOVY · ANORO · ANORO ELLIPTA · AUSTEDO · Aimovig · Arcalyst · BELBUCA · BREO · BREZTRI AEROSPHERE · BRILINTA · BYDUREON · CAMZYOS · CARDIOMEMS · COMIRNATY · CONFIRM RX · CardioMEMS HF System · Corlanor · DUAKLIR PRESSAIR · Dayvigo · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Edarbi · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve · Eprontia · FARXIGA · FUROSCIX · Hillrom - Cardiac Ambulatory Monitor · Hillrom - Carnation Ambulatory Monitor · INSPIRE · INVOKANA · JARDIANCE · JOT DX · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LONHALA MAGNAIR · LifeVest · Livalo · MITRIS RESILIA Mitral Valve · MOUNJARO · MULTAQ · MYFEMBREE · Mitra Clip system · MoMe Kardia · Movantik · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · NORTHERA · NURTEC ODT · NUZYRA · OPSUMIT · OPSUMIT MACITENTAN · ORENITRAM · Ozempic · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · QUVIVIQ · RELISTOR · REMODULIN · REXULTI · RYBELSUS · Repatha · SHINGRIX · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SYMBICORT · Saxenda · SkinTE · Sunosi · TOUJEO · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TROKENDI XR · TRULANCE · TRULICITY · TYVASO · Topical Oxygen Chamber for extremities · Trulance · Utibron · VERQUVO · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · Victoza · Wegovy · XARELTO · YUPELRI · Yupelri · 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 (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
19
Per 100K population
8.4
County median income
$79,838
Nearest hospital
JOHNSTON HEALTH
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 2024 |
| 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. Wefald is a cardiac imaging specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 21 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. Wefald experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Wefald performed 1,482 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Wefald receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Wefald received a total of $9,238 from 59 companies across 619 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. Wefald's costs compare to other cardiologists in Smithfield?
Dr. Wefald's average Medicare payment per service is $80. 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. Wefald) 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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