Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Brion Winston, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Albany, NY
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. Winston 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 →
Are you Dr. Winston?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Winston
Dr. Brion Winston is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Albany, NY, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Winston performed 6,052 Medicare services across 2,712 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Winston received a total of $90,783 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 571 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. Winston 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 7% volume in NY
$90,783 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗6,052
Medicare services
Top 7% in NY for cardiovascular disease
2,712
Unique beneficiaries
$69
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~319 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. |
2,100 | $0 | $0 |
| 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. |
682 | $10 | $30 |
| 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. |
599 | $85 | $250 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
216 | $43 | $113 |
| 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. |
185 | $18 | $50 |
| 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. |
185 | $54 | $262 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
117 | $8 | $14 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
106 | $139 | $382 |
| Principal care management for high-risk disease, first 30 minutes This service covers the initial 30 minutes of clinical staff time per calendar month to manage a single high-risk disease. It is directed by a healthcare professional. |
94 | $44 | $110 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
91 | $8 | $15 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
80 | $10 | $21 |
| 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. |
75 | $131 | $341 |
| 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. |
73 | $125 | $350 |
| Transcatheter aortic valve replacement via femoral artery A minimally invasive procedure to replace a diseased aortic heart valve using a catheter inserted through the skin and femoral artery. |
70 | $556 | $2,294 |
| Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | 70 | $394 | $561 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
66 | $47 | $140 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
65 | $38 | $80 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 64 | $164 | $552 |
| Remote vital sign monitoring management, each additional 20 minutes This code covers the time spent by a provider managing patient data from remote vital sign monitoring devices. It applies to each additional 20-minute increment beyond the initial monthly service period. |
64 | $30 | $80 |
| 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. |
62 | $91 | $230 |
| Troponin blood test A blood test that measures the amount of troponin protein in your body. Troponin is released into the blood when heart muscle is damaged. |
59 | $12 | $25 |
| 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. |
55 | $102 | $300 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
55 | $85 | $150 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
54 | $17 | $50 |
| 30-day continuous ECG with patient-triggered event transmission and review This procedure involves continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days, including the transmission of patient-triggered events. A healthcare professional reviews the data and provides a report. |
54 | $626 | $1,500 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
53 | $6 | $13 |
| Additional 30 minutes of principal care management This service covers each additional 30 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing a single high-risk disease, billed per calendar month. |
52 | $33 | $90 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
47 | $13 | $27 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
47 | $16 | $32 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
47 | $37 | $90 |
| PET scan of heart muscle blood flow A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate blood flow within the heart muscle. |
35 | $99 | $257 |
| Cerebral embolic protection device placement and removal A catheter-based procedure to place a device in the brain to prevent embolisms, followed by its removal, using imaging guidance. |
34 | $99 | $251 |
| Nuclear stress test with CT scan A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow in the heart muscle at rest and during stress, performed alongside a concurrent CT scan. |
34 | $1,258 | $3,200 |
| 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. |
34 | $55 | $180 |
| 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. |
32 | $414 | $1,103 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
30 | $9 | $18 |
| 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. |
27 | $333 | $853 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 25 | $161 | $375 |
| 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. |
25 | $182 | $540 |
| Normal saline infusion, 1000 cc Administration of 1000 cc of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater solution. |
23 | $2 | $2 |
| Repair of left upper heart chamber with implant A surgical procedure to repair the left upper chamber of the heart using an implanted device, with review by a radiologist. |
21 | $374 | $1,481 |
| Smoking cessation counseling, 4-10 minutes A brief counseling session focused on helping patients quit smoking and tobacco use. The provider spends 4 to 10 minutes discussing strategies and support for cessation. |
21 | $14 | $30 |
| Mitral valve repair through skin, initial prosthesis A minimally invasive procedure to repair the mitral valve using a new prosthetic device inserted through the skin. |
19 | $831 | $3,400 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
19 | $8 | $17 |
| Same-day hospital admission and discharge, high complexity Initial hospital care for a patient admitted and discharged on the same day, involving a high level of medical decision making. This service requires at least 85 minutes of time spent on the day of the visit. |
19 | $160 | $400 |
| 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. |
17 | $137 | $371 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries at rest and after exercise This test uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the legs while the patient is resting and after physical activity to assess blood flow. |
14 | $109 | $302 |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein test A blood test that measures high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to detect infection or inflammation. |
13 | $13 | $26 |
| Insertion of implantable heart rhythm monitor A small device is placed under the skin to continuously record the heart's electrical activity. This helps detect irregular heart rhythms that may not appear during a standard office visit. |
12 | $3,301 | $6,800 |
| Intravascular ultrasound of heart vessel, initial An ultrasound procedure used to evaluate a blood vessel within the heart during a diagnostic or treatment procedure. |
11 | $54 | $140 |
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.
5.2% high complexity
42.0% medium
52.8% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$90,783
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $12,969/year across 7 years
Top 5% in NY for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
33
Companies
571
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
$71,976 (79.3%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$10,408 (11.5%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$8,399 (9.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$14,183
2023
$1,706
2022
$1,348
2021
$913
2020
$41,752
2019
$29,921
2018
$960
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$7,633
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$2,775
Inari Medical, Inc.
$2,500
Boston Scientific Corporation
$501
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$244
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$217
Abbott Laboratories
$109
PFIZER INC.
$54
Amgen Inc.
$53
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$33
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$18
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$16
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$14
Top 3 companies account for 91.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Boston Scientific Corporation
$70,325
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$10,412
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$2,794
Inari Medical, Inc.
$2,500
Abbott Laboratories
$1,318
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$745
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$342
PFIZER INC.
$302
Amgen Inc.
$268
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$217
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$192
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$190
ABIOMED
$175
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$170
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$125
CHIESI USA, INC.
$117
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$94
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$92
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$67
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$56
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$37
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$36
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company
$31
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$26
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$24
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$22
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$21
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$18
EKOS Corporation
$16
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$14
B. Braun Interventional Systems Inc.
$13
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$13
BRACCO DIAGNOSTICS INC.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 92.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ALPHAVAC · ANGIOVAC · Arcalyst · BRILINTA · Baylis Medical Company Radiofrequency Puncture Generator · CAMZYOS · CARDIOGEN · CLEVIPREX · CLEVIPREX 25MG/50ML · CLEVIPREX 50MG/100ML · CT THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM KIT · Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System · DIAMONDBACK CORONARY · Diamondback Coronary · Diamondback Peripheral · EKOSONIC · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve · FARXIGA · FUROSCIX · GENERAL STRUCTURAL HEART · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL - STRUCTURAL HEART · GENERAL - THERAPIES · GIAPREZA · GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder · General - Structural Heart · General - Therapies · Hi-Torque Intermediate guide wire · Hi-Torque Pilot guide wire · Impella · Inpefa · KENGREAL · KENGREAL 50MG/10ML L · LEQVIO · LOTUS EDGE · LOTUS Edge · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · LifeVest · MITRACLIP · MULTAQ · Mitra Clip system · NAVITOR · NEXLETOL · No Marketed Product Name · Occluders · Optis Coronary Imaging System · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Precision · Repatha · SAMSCA · SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA · Spectra WaveWriter · Tendyne Mitral Valve System · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · VersaCross Access Solution · VersaCross Steerable Access Solution · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · XARELTO · Xience Alpine cornary stent system · 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 →
The majority of payments (79%) 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 5% for cardiovascular disease in NY.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
101
Per 100K population
32.0
County median income
$83,149
Nearest hospital
ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL
4.6 mi
4.6 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. Winston is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 7% in NY), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 5% of NY peers, 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. Winston experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Winston performed 2,100 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. Winston receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Winston received a total of $90,783 from 33 companies across 571 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. Winston's costs compare to other cardiologists in Albany?
Dr. Winston's average Medicare payment per service is $69. 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. Winston) 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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