Medicare Enrolled
Dr. William Buchanan, MD
Interventional Cardiology · Wilmington, NC
Practice pattern: Electrophysiology & Device
— Practice focused on heart rhythm disorders and cardiac device management
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. Buchanan 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. Buchanan
Dr. William Buchanan is an interventional cardiology specialist in Wilmington, NC, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Buchanan performed 2,855 Medicare services across 2,556 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Buchanan received a total of $1,417 from 17 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 51 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in interventional cardiology. 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. Buchanan 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 22% volume in NC
$1,417 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,855
Medicare services
Top 22% in NC for interventional cardiology
2,556
Unique beneficiaries
$56
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~150 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. |
1,020 | $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. |
347 | $89 | $291 |
| 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. |
174 | $10 | $130 |
| 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. |
149 | $115 | $478 |
| 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. |
121 | $116 | $427 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 110 | $177 | $847 |
| 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. |
103 | $16 | $98 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
96 | $8 | $22 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
64 | $44 | $106 |
| 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. |
60 | $4 | $21 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
57 | $8 | $42 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
56 | $86 | $399 |
| Coronary stent placement A procedure to insert a stent into a coronary artery or its branch to keep it open, using balloon dilation during the process. |
53 | $413 | $1,511 |
| Intravascular ultrasound of heart vessel, initial An ultrasound procedure used to evaluate a blood vessel within the heart during a diagnostic or treatment procedure. |
34 | $27 | $251 |
| 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. |
30 | $6 | $34 |
| 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. |
30 | $20 | $256 |
| 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. |
29 | $263 | $1,176 |
| Ultrasound of heart blood vessel or graft An ultrasound exam to evaluate blood flow in a heart blood vessel or graft, including a radiologist's review of the initial vessel. |
28 | $71 | $394 |
| Insertion of tube in left lower heart chamber, coronary artery and bypass graft for diagnosis with review by radiologist | 28 | $193 | $953 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
25 | $38 | $175 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
25 | $19 | $70 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring with transmission and review Continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days with symptom tracking. The data is transmitted and reviewed by a healthcare professional who provides a report. |
22 | $18 | $112 |
| 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. |
22 | $129 | $565 |
| 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. |
21 | $94 | $418 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
19 | $64 | $300 |
| Insertion of tube in right and left heart chambers and coronary artery for diagnosis with review by radiologist | 19 | $281 | $1,062 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
18 | $13 | $69 |
| 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. |
16 | $93 | $283 |
| 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 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
14 | $16 | $84 |
| 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 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
13 | $15 | $75 |
| Critical care, first 30-74 min Emergency medical care for a critically ill or injured patient lasting between 30 and 74 minutes. This service involves direct patient care and medical decision making to stabilize the patient. |
11 | $166 | $907 |
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.
7.4% high complexity
12.0% medium
80.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$1,417
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $202/year across 7 years
Bottom 23% in NC for interventional cardiology
17
Companies
51
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
$1,417 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$478
2023
$121
2022
$360
2021
$104
2020
$19
2019
$100
2018
$234
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Amgen Inc.
$117
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$111
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$78
Boston Scientific Corporation
$48
Baxter Healthcare
$40
Abbott Laboratories
$30
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$22
ABIOMED
$18
Vital Connect, Inc
$14
Top 3 companies account for 64.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Abbott Laboratories
$236
ABIOMED
$183
Amgen Inc.
$134
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$128
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$126
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$115
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$111
Penumbra, Inc.
$100
Boston Scientific Corporation
$78
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$47
Baxter Healthcare
$40
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$38
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$22
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$19
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$15
Vital Connect, Inc
$14
Terumo Medical Corporation
$11
Top 3 companies account for 39.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCOLADE SR · AMPLATZER AMULET · ANGIO-SEAL · CARDIOMEMS · ELIQUIS · General - Thrombectomy · Hillrom - Cardiac Ambulatory Monitor · Impella · Indigo · LEQVIO · LifeVest · MITRACLIP · OPTICROSS · PERCLOSE PROGLIDE · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Repatha · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · Shockwave IVL System with the Shockwave C2 Coronary IVL Catheter · VERQUVO · VITALPATCH RTM · Vascular Lithotripsy · WOLVERINE · Xience Sierra Coronary Stent System
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
Interventional cardiologists within 10 mi
5
Per 100K population
2.2
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. Buchanan is an electrophysiology & device specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 22% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 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. Buchanan experienced with electrocardiogram (ekg), 12-lead?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Buchanan performed 1,020 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. Buchanan receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Buchanan received a total of $1,417 from 17 companies across 51 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. Buchanan's costs compare to other interventional cardiologists in Wilmington?
Dr. Buchanan's average Medicare payment per service is $56. 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. Buchanan) 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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