Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Meena Rao, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Wilmington, NC
Practice pattern: Remote & Electrophysiology
— Practice combining remote and electrophysiology services
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. Rao 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. Rao
Dr. Meena Rao is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Wilmington, NC, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Rao performed 5,370 Medicare services across 4,478 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Rao received a total of $14,506 from 19 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 299 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. Rao 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.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 7% volume in NC
$14,506 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,370
Medicare services
Top 7% in NC for cardiovascular disease
4,478
Unique beneficiaries
$44
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~298 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
709 | $15 | $95 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart rhythm device Evaluation of data transmitted remotely from an implantable cardiovascular monitor, such as a loop recorder or subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor, over a period up to 30 days. |
632 | $35 | $55 |
| Remote cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation, up to 30 days Review and analysis of data from a remote cardiac rhythm monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
558 | $18 | $80 |
| Remote pacemaker monitoring, 90 days Remote assessment of a pacemaker system, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless devices, performed up to 90 days apart. |
517 | $20 | $100 |
| 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. |
497 | $10 | $93 |
| 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. |
272 | $123 | $454 |
| Pacemaker system evaluation Assessment of a pacemaker device, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless systems. |
258 | $38 | $114 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart device, up to 30 days Remote evaluation of an implanted heart or blood vessel monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
250 | $18 | $70 |
| Remote evaluation of implantable defibrillator system Remote assessment of a single, dual, or multiple lead implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the previous evaluation. |
195 | $26 | $180 |
| Evaluation of implantable heart and blood vessel monitoring system This procedure involves checking the function and data of an implanted device used to monitor heart and blood vessel activity. |
122 | $32 | $146 |
| 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. |
109 | $92 | $283 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
93 | $10 | $130 |
| 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. |
92 | $84 | $291 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
89 | $8 | $22 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
79 | $19 | $70 |
| Implantable defibrillator system check A check of the implanted defibrillator device to ensure it is functioning correctly. This evaluation covers single, dual, or multiple lead systems. |
79 | $46 | $177 |
| 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. |
74 | $133 | $570 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
66 | $59 | $175 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
62 | $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. |
54 | $7 | $35 |
| Pacemaker insertion with heart chamber electrodes A surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker device and place electrodes into the upper and lower chambers of the heart to regulate heart rhythm. |
46 | $389 | $1,274 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
46 | $49 | $195 |
| 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. |
37 | $6 | $34 |
| 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. |
34 | $124 | $478 |
| Cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation Review and analysis of data recorded by a cardiac rhythm monitoring device to assess heart activity. |
33 | $38 | $111 |
| Atrial fibrillation ablation with pulmonary vein isolation A procedure to treat atrial fibrillation by mapping the heart's electrical activity and destroying tissue causing irregular contractions. This is done by isolating the pulmonary veins using catheter-based destruction. |
32 | $704 | $2,836 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
30 | $88 | $390 |
| 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. |
28 | $74 | $271 |
| 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. |
28 | $99 | $421 |
| 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. |
27 | $62 | $200 |
| Removal of subcutaneous heart rhythm monitor This procedure involves the removal of a heart rhythm monitor that has been implanted under the skin. It is a minor surgical intervention to extract the device. |
20 | $36 | $353 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 20 | $167 | $616 |
| Catheter ablation for abnormal heart rhythm A procedure where catheters are inserted to destroy tissue causing irregular heartbeats. |
19 | $233 | $1,063 |
| Heart rhythm stimulator programming after drug infusion Adjustment of a heart rhythm stimulation device following a drug infusion. This procedure involves reprogramming the device settings to ensure proper function after the medication has been administered. |
18 | $62 | $405 |
| Insertion of left lower heart electrode for pacemaker or defibrillator A procedure to place an electrode in the lower part of the left side of the heart. This electrode is used to connect a pacemaker or defibrillator to help regulate the heart's rhythm. |
17 | $346 | $1,154 |
| 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. |
17 | $15 | $98 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
15 | $10 | $44 |
| 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. |
15 | $19 | $256 |
| Pacemaker system programming Adjustment and testing of a multi-lead pacemaker to ensure proper function and settings. |
15 | $61 | $206 |
| Programming of dual lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with two leads to ensure proper function. |
15 | $57 | $231 |
| 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. |
13 | $266 | $1,208 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
13 | $16 | $84 |
| Heart conduction tissue destruction A procedure that destroys heart conduction tissue to create a heart block. |
13 | $442 | $1,523 |
| Pacemaker system programming Adjustment and configuration of a pacemaker device to ensure proper operation. This service involves setting device parameters before or after surgical implantation. |
12 | $11 | $62 |
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.
38.6% high complexity
1.4% medium
60.0% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$14,506
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,072/year across 7 years
Top 18% in NC for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
19
Companies
299
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
$12,365 (85.2%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$2,141 (14.8%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$4,435
2023
$1,324
2022
$1,927
2021
$528
2020
$2,376
2019
$450
2018
$3,466
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Medtronic, Inc.
$2,141
Abbott Laboratories
$627
Boston Scientific Corporation
$623
Biosense Webster, Inc.
$472
ATRICURE, INC.
$421
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$68
CVRx, Inc.
$48
Elutia, Inc.
$34
Top 3 companies account for 76.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Medtronic, Inc.
$2,894
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$2,554
Boston Scientific Corporation
$2,294
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$1,883
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$1,335
Abbott Laboratories
$1,160
Biosense Webster, Inc.
$924
ATRICURE, INC.
$841
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$159
BIOTRONIK INC.
$112
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$100
Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
$76
CVRx, Inc.
$48
Elutia, Inc.
$34
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$25
AtriCure, Inc.
$24
MEDICOMP INC
$17
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$13
Teleflex LLC
$11
Top 3 companies account for 53.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(9124) LM Undivided · AMPLATZER AMULET · AMPLATZER TALISMAN · ARCTIC FRONT ADVANCE · ASSURITY · AVEIR · AZURE XT DR MRI SURESCAN · Amplia MRI · Arctic Front · Azure · Barostim Neo System · CARTO 3 · COBALT DR MRI SURESCAN · Cardiac Monitor · CardioMEMS HF System · Carto 3 · Carto 3 System · Catheter - Specialty Access · Claria MRI · DiamondTemp · ECM Patch · ELIQUIS · ENSITE · EPI-SENSE GUIDED COAGULATION SYSTEM WITH VISITRAX · EnSite Precision Cardiac Mapping System · Ensite Cardiac Mapping System · Evera · HeartMate · JOT DX · LINQ II · LUX DX · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · LifeVest · Micra · ONPATTRO · PERCLOSE PROGLIDE · PLASMABLADE(TM) · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Performa · Pouch · QDOT MICRO Catheter · Reveal LINQ · SelectSecure · VersaCross Access Solution · VersaCross Large Access Solution · Visia AF · Visitag · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX
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 (85%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
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. Rao is a remote & electrophysiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 7% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 18% of NC peers, with 18 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. Rao experienced with remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Rao performed 709 remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days 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. Rao receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Rao received a total of $14,506 from 19 companies across 299 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. Rao's costs compare to other cardiologists in Wilmington?
Dr. Rao's average Medicare payment per service is $44. 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. Rao) 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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