Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Ellis Tinsley, MD
Surgery · Wilmington, NC
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Speaking/Promotional
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. Tinsley 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. Tinsley
Dr. Ellis Tinsley is a surgery specialist in Wilmington, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Tinsley performed 8,812 Medicare services across 4,703 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Tinsley received a total of $82,028 from 29 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 192 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in surgery. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Tinsley 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 1% volume in NC
$82,028 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,812
Medicare services
Top 1% in NC for surgery
4,703
Unique beneficiaries
$118
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~441 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
2,491 | $0 | $2 |
| 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. |
1,508 | $64 | $153 |
| 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. |
810 | $51 | $165 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
596 | $87 | $231 |
| 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. |
479 | $133 | $373 |
| 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. |
353 | $126 | $385 |
| 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. |
350 | $169 | $489 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
347 | $79 | $210 |
| Autonomic nervous system function test This test evaluates how well the sympathetic nervous system is functioning. It assesses the automatic control of bodily processes such as heart rate and blood pressure. |
342 | $87 | $248 |
| 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. |
300 | $118 | $320 |
| Ultrasound-guided injection into a single leg vein A chemical agent is injected into one incompetent vein in the leg while using ultrasound to guide the needle placement. |
288 | $972 | $2,932 |
| Complete ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts A complete ultrasound exam of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. This imaging test uses sound waves to visualize these blood vessels. |
234 | $113 | $361 |
| 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. |
189 | $88 | $212 |
| Strapping, unna boot | 158 | $56 | $177 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck soft tissue This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the soft tissues in the head and neck area. It allows for the visualization of structures beneath the skin without using radiation. |
73 | $78 | $221 |
| Radiofrequency vein destruction, first vein A procedure to treat the first incompetent vein in the arm or leg using radiofrequency energy and imaging guidance. |
64 | $766 | $5,138 |
| Limited ultrasound of joint or extremity A focused ultrasound exam of a specific joint or other structure in the arm or leg, excluding blood vessels. |
37 | $31 | $111 |
| Radiologist review of abdominal aorta image A radiologist reviews images of the abdominal aorta to evaluate the blood vessel. |
31 | $94 | $1,323 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis blood flow This procedure uses sound waves to create images of blood flow in the arteries and veins of the abdomen and pelvis. It evaluates the rate and direction of blood movement within these vessels. |
30 | $194 | $533 |
| Ultrasound-guided injection into multiple incompetent leg veins A procedure where a chemical agent is injected into several faulty veins in the same leg. Ultrasound guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
29 | $1,044 | $3,083 |
| Arterial plaque removal in leg A procedure to remove plaque buildup from the arteries in the leg to restore blood flow. |
23 | $6,379 | $23,186 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
19 | $113 | $1,324 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to create images of the arteries in one leg or any grafts present in that leg. |
19 | $82 | $257 |
| Limited abdominal ultrasound A focused ultrasound examination of the abdomen to evaluate specific organs or areas. This procedure uses sound waves to create images of internal structures. |
17 | $66 | $175 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery images A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in one or both arms or legs to assess blood flow and vessel health. |
14 | $122 | $1,400 |
| Arterial thrombectomy, chest, neck, or brain A procedure to remove a blood clot and part of an artery in the chest, neck, or brain. |
11 | $828 | $2,222 |
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.
2.7% high complexity
63.2% medium
34.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$82,028
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $11,718/year across 7 years
Top 4% in NC for surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
29
Companies
192
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$78,556 (95.8%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$3,472 (4.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$286
2023
$111
2022
$3,899
2021
$4,789
2020
$6,594
2019
$39,378
2018
$26,971
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Ethicon US, LLC
$68
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$52
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$32
Organogenesis Inc.
$29
Sanara MedTech Inc.
$28
Boston Scientific Corporation
$18
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$17
Inari Medical, Inc.
$14
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$14
PFIZER INC.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 53.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$78,545
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$903
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$579
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$306
Venclose Inc.
$280
Organogenesis Inc.
$229
Boston Scientific Corporation
$172
Medtronic, Inc.
$139
Ethicon US, LLC
$108
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$91
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$86
Silk Road Medical, Inc.
$85
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$67
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
$65
PFIZER INC.
$46
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$45
Endologix, Inc.
$41
Penumbra, Inc.
$31
Sanara MedTech Inc.
$28
KCI USA, Inc.
$27
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$26
ORGANOGENESIS INC.
$19
Baxter Healthcare
$18
Mallinckrodt LLC
$18
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$17
Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
$17
Inari Medical, Inc.
$14
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$13
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 97.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTICOAT 4" X 4" · ACTIV.A.C. · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · Aptus Heli-FX · CellerateRx · DERMABOND Portfolio · Da Vinci Surgical System · Diamondback Peripheral · ECM · ELIQUIS · ENCOR · ENDURANT IIS · ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System · EVRSF · Endurant · Exparel · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GENERAL METALLIC STENTS · GRAFIX PL · HawkOne · Indigo · LIFESTREAM · LUTONIX · OFIRMEV · PIVOX Oblique Lateral Spinal System · PREVELEAK · PROLENE · Penumbra System · Puraply · Rotarex · RotarexS 6 F x 135 cm · S · SURGICEL NU-KNIT · SYNECOR Biomaterial · TurboHawk · Valiant Navion · Varithena Administration Pack · Venclose · Venclose Maven Catheter · XARELTO
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 →
The majority of payments (96%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in surgery and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 4% for surgery in NC.
Geographic Context
Surgerists within 10 mi
53
Per 100K population
22.9
County median income
$72,892
Nearest hospital
WILMINGTON TREATMENT CENTER
7.1 mi
7.1 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. Tinsley is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in NC), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 4% 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. Tinsley experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Tinsley performed 2,491 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Tinsley receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Tinsley received a total of $82,028 from 29 companies across 192 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. Tinsley's costs compare to other surgerists in Wilmington?
Dr. Tinsley's average Medicare payment per service is $118. 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. Tinsley) 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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