Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Ofelia Balta, M.D.
Pediatrics · Sylva, 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. Balta 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. Balta
Dr. Ofelia Balta is a pediatrics specialist in Sylva, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Balta performed 5,434 Medicare services across 2,628 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Balta received a total of $10,381 from 50 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 744 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pediatrics. 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. Balta 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 3% volume in NC
$10,381 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,434
Medicare services
Top 3% in NC for pediatrics
2,628
Unique beneficiaries
$50
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~272 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. |
1,631 | $81 | $129 |
| 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. |
575 | $51 | $86 |
| 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. |
434 | $10 | $31 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
394 | $1 | $20 |
| Ceftriaxone antibiotic injection This code represents the administration of ceftriaxone sodium, an antibiotic medication. The charge is calculated for every 250 mg of the drug administered. |
322 | $0 | $5 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
290 | $120 | $119 |
| 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. |
281 | $78 | $82 |
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
161 | $2 | $16 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
158 | $0 | $19 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
153 | $16 | $70 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
147 | $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. |
128 | $124 | $173 |
| Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, cell culture-derived A flu shot that protects against four strains of the influenza virus. It is produced using cell culture technology rather than traditional egg-based methods. |
124 | $30 | $31 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
124 | $20 | $20 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
71 | $51 | $76 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 5-10 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 5 and 10 minutes to discuss medical matters. |
65 | $27 | $46 |
| COVID-19 immunoassay detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay method to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) through direct visual observation. |
46 | $41 | $70 |
| 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. |
45 | $10 | $50 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
42 | $10 | $15 |
| 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. |
37 | $32 | $52 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 40 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of up to 40 mg. |
34 | $2 | $7 |
| Inhaled albuterol and ipratropium bromide via DME Administration of FDA-approved albuterol and ipratropium bromide medication through durable medical equipment. |
27 | $0 | $20 |
| 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 | $110 | $196 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
19 | $36 | $65 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
19 | $16 | $32 |
| Annual wellness visit, initial visit A yearly appointment to review your health and create a personalized prevention plan. This initial visit focuses on preventive care and health assessment. |
19 | $160 | $172 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone. |
18 | $63 | $98 |
| Initial preventive physical examination, new Medicare beneficiary A comprehensive preventive health visit for new Medicare beneficiaries during their first 12 months of enrollment. The service is conducted as a face-to-face visit and is limited to preventive care. |
17 | $160 | $168 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
16 | $46 | $99 |
| 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. |
11 | $213 | $298 |
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.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$10,381
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,483/year across 7 years
Top 3% in NC for pediatrics
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
50
Companies
744
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
$10,369 (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
$1,132
2023
$1,446
2022
$1,378
2021
$1,061
2020
$1,917
2019
$1,801
2018
$1,645
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novo Nordisk Inc
$220
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$197
ABBVIE INC.
$158
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$78
Lilly USA, LLC
$74
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$62
Abbott Laboratories
$52
Amgen Inc.
$51
Exact Sciences Corporation
$40
PFIZER INC.
$35
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$33
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$28
Tris Pharma Inc
$21
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$20
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$18
Inari Medical, Inc.
$17
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 50.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novo Nordisk Inc
$1,267
PFIZER INC.
$906
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$771
Amgen Inc.
$650
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$612
AbbVie Inc.
$601
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$567
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$517
Lilly USA, LLC
$510
ABBVIE INC.
$456
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$361
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$353
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$326
Allergan, Inc.
$307
Abbott Laboratories
$239
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$228
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$158
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$120
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$118
Allergan Inc.
$114
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$106
AbbVie, Inc.
$94
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$84
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$79
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$65
Shield Therapeutics Inc
$60
Exact Sciences Corporation
$60
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$53
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$48
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$45
Tris Pharma Inc
$43
Eisai Inc.
$42
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$34
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$34
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$33
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$32
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
Adlon Therapeutics L.P.
$29
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$29
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Inc.
$28
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$28
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$24
Corium, LLC
$24
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$18
Inari Medical, Inc.
$17
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$14
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$14
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$12
IMPEL PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$12
Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc
$12
Top 3 companies account for 28.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABILIFY MAINTENA · ACCRUFER · ADHANSIA XR · AIRSUPRA · AJOVY · ANORO · ANORO ELLIPTA · AZSTARYS · Aimovig · Amitiza · Auvelity · Azstarys · BASAGLAR · BELSOMRA · BOTOX · BREZTRI · CHANTIX · Cologuard Collection Kit · DSUVIA · DUZALLO · Dayvigo · Dyanavel XR · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · EVKEEZA · FARXIGA · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · FREESTYLE LIBRE · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · FreeStyle Libre 2 · GEMTESA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LINZESS · LONHALA MAGNAIR · LYRICA · MOTEGRITY · MOUNJARO · Motegrity · NURTEC ODT · NUZYRA · Otezla · Ozempic · PAXLOVID · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · PREMARIN · PREVNAR - 13 · PREVNAR 13 · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Prolia · QULIPTA · REXULTI · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · S · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SPIRIVA RESPIMAT · STEGLATRO · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SYMBICORT · SYNTHROID · Saxenda · Synthroid · TOUJEO · TOVIAZ · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · Tirosint · Tresiba · Trintellix · Trudhesa · Trulance · UBRELVY · VIBERZI · VOQUEZNA · VRAYLAR · VYVANSE · Vascepa · Victoza · Vyvanse · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Yupelri · ZENPEP · ZTLido 30 POUCH in 1 CARTON 1 PATCH in 1 POUCH
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. Total industry engagement is in the top 3% for pediatrics in NC.
Geographic Context
Pediatricians within 10 mi
18
Per 100K population
41.8
County median income
$53,479
Nearest hospital
HARRIS REGIONAL HOSPITAL
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. Balta is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 3% of NC peers, 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. Balta experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Balta performed 1,631 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. Balta receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Balta received a total of $10,381 from 50 companies across 744 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. Balta's costs compare to other pediatricians in Sylva?
Dr. Balta's average Medicare payment per service is $50. 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. Balta) 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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