Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Linda Calhoun, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Wilmington, NC
Practice pattern: Electrophysiology & Device
— Practice focused on heart rhythm disorders and cardiac device management
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. Calhoun 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. Calhoun
Dr. Linda Calhoun is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Wilmington, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Calhoun performed 4,096 Medicare services across 3,106 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Calhoun received a total of $42,530 from 23 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 118 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Calhoun 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 13% volume in NC
$42,530 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,096
Medicare services
Top 13% in NC for cardiovascular disease
3,106
Unique beneficiaries
$40
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~205 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
837 | $10 | $93 |
| 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. |
689 | $87 | $291 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
372 | $8 | $22 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
295 | $86 | $382 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
246 | $38 | $175 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
236 | $8 | $42 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
162 | $7 | $35 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
120 | $92 | $283 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
98 | $10 | $53 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
97 | $10 | $44 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
88 | $13 | $69 |
| LDL cholesterol level test A blood test that measures the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in your blood. LDL is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. |
87 | $10 | $50 |
| Complete blood count (CBC), automated An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. |
83 | $6 | $34 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
67 | $61 | $200 |
| 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. |
51 | $16 | $98 |
| 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. |
48 | $110 | $481 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
46 | $84 | $393 |
| 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. |
41 | $145 | $681 |
| 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. |
36 | $11 | $65 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
35 | $16 | $84 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
33 | $4 | $21 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
33 | $100 | $422 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
33 | $115 | $568 |
| External shock to heart to regulate heart beat A procedure that delivers an electric shock to the heart from outside the body to restore a normal heart rhythm. |
32 | $84 | $501 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
29 | $20 | $70 |
| 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. |
25 | $21 | $256 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
25 | $83 | $470 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
25 | $6 | $34 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
25 | $2 | $17 |
| 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. |
24 | $45 | $633 |
| 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. |
22 | $136 | $427 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
19 | $16 | $75 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 48 hours to 7 days This procedure involves recording the heart's electrical activity continuously using an external device for a period exceeding 48 hours but not more than 7 days. |
13 | $9 | $34 |
| Continuous EKG monitoring review, 48-7 days Review and interpretation of continuous external EKG recordings lasting more than 48 hours up to 7 days. |
13 | $18 | $68 |
| Liver enzyme (SGOT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme SGOT to help assess liver health. |
11 | $5 | $27 |
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.
7.8% high complexity
6.1% medium
86.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$42,530
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $6,076/year across 7 years
Top 9% in NC for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
23
Companies
118
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
$38,470 (90.5%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$4,060 (9.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$753
2023
$508
2022
$1,793
2021
$2,593
2020
$19,211
2019
$16,485
2018
$1,187
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$193
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$182
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$137
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$124
Amgen Inc.
$69
Abbott Laboratories
$30
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$18
Top 3 companies account for 67.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$38,470
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$710
Abbott Laboratories
$535
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$449
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$299
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$247
Amgen Inc.
$214
PFIZER INC.
$193
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$191
Medtronic, Inc.
$147
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$142
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$126
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$125
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$124
Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.
$120
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$115
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$98
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$81
ABIOMED
$68
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$31
Masimo Corporation
$17
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$14
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 93.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
3F · AJOVY · AMPLATZER AMULET · ASSURITY · COBALT DR MRI SURESCAN · CardioMEMS HF System · Definity · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve · FARXIGA · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · Impella · LEQVIO · LOKELMA · LifeVest · Livalo · PERCLOSE PROGLIDE · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · Patient SafetyNet System · Percepta · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · RESONATE · Repatha · UPTRAVI · VERQUVO · ZIO Patch · ZIO XT 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 →
The majority of payments (90%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in cardiovascular disease and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 9% for cardiovascular disease in NC.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
33
Per 100K population
14.3
County median income
$72,892
Nearest hospital
WILMINGTON TREATMENT CENTER
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. Calhoun is an electrophysiology & device specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 13% in NC), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 9% 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. Calhoun experienced with electrocardiogram (ekg), 12-lead?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Calhoun performed 837 electrocardiogram (ekg), 12-lead 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. Calhoun receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Calhoun received a total of $42,530 from 23 companies across 118 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. Calhoun's costs compare to other cardiologists in Wilmington?
Dr. Calhoun's average Medicare payment per service is $40. 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. Calhoun) 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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