Medicare Enrolled
Dr. James O'Brien, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Albany, NY
Practice pattern: Remote & Electrophysiology
— Practice combining remote and electrophysiology services
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. O'Brien 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. O'Brien
Dr. James O'Brien is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Albany, NY, with 21 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. O'Brien performed 13,606 Medicare services in 2023. These records do not provide a deduplicated patient total.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. O'Brien received a total of $13,102 from 17 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 160 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly reported through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their effect on care. A reliable breakdown by payment category is not available in this snapshot. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. O'Brien 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.
✓ 21 years of NPI registration
▲ Top 1% volume in NY
$13,102 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary — 2023
Medicare Utilization ↗13,606
Medicare services
Top 1% in NY for cardiovascular disease
Not available
Unique patients (not deduplicated)
$37
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inclisiran injection (Leqvio) for cholesterol | 5,396 | $9 | $12 |
| 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. |
1,157 | $51 | $267 |
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
893 | $15 | $41 |
| 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. |
868 | $18 | $50 |
| 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. |
819 | $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. |
714 | $83 | $250 |
| 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. |
516 | $20 | $60 |
| 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. |
387 | $25 | $75 |
| 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. |
301 | $18 | $50 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
296 | $8 | $15 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
213 | $10 | $21 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
172 | $13 | $27 |
| 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. |
171 | $29 | $80 |
| 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. |
124 | $132 | $340 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
119 | $36 | $90 |
| 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. |
109 | $8 | $15 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
107 | $38 | $80 |
| 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. |
107 | $46 | $110 |
| 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. |
89 | $36 | $90 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
87 | $56 | $151 |
| Cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation Review and analysis of data recorded by a cardiac rhythm monitoring device to assess heart activity. |
54 | $36 | $100 |
| 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. |
53 | $35 | $100 |
| 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. |
52 | $77 | $197 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
50 | $18 | $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. |
50 | $626 | $1,500 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
49 | $8 | $17 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
48 | $16 | $32 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 46 | $165 | $375 |
| 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. |
43 | $117 | $300 |
| 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. |
39 | $61 | $149 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
38 | $7 | $13 |
| 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. |
37 | $82 | $301 |
| 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. |
35 | $3,293 | $6,800 |
| 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. |
33 | $12 | $25 |
| 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. |
33 | $694 | $1,859 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
27 | $16 | $45 |
| 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. |
25 | $73 | $191 |
| 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. |
25 | $88 | $230 |
| 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. |
24 | $108 | $351 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
22 | $139 | $390 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
22 | $11 | $28 |
| Principal care management for high-risk disease, first 30 minutes This service involves 30 minutes of personal care management by a qualified healthcare professional for a patient with a single high-risk disease, billed per calendar month. |
21 | $59 | $160 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
17 | $5 | $10 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
17 | $4 | $8 |
| 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. |
16 | $418 | $1,484 |
| 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. |
15 | $52 | $163 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
15 | $9 | $18 |
| Pacemaker/ICD evaluation at implant or replacement Assessment of a single or dual chamber pacing cardioverter-defibrillator and generator during the initial implantation or replacement procedure. |
15 | $115 | $600 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
15 | $40 | $110 |
| 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. |
13 | $50 | $140 |
| 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. |
12 | $211 | $540 |
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. These counts do not measure clinical quality or years of experience.
14.9% high complexity
39.8% medium
45.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$13,102
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,872/year across 7 years
Top 17% in NY for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
17
Companies
160
Payment records
Payments are publicly reported; disclosure does not establish legality · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment categories are unavailable while the source breakdown is being rebuilt. Company and year totals do not identify how much belongs to each category.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$325
2023
$462
2022
$2,466
2021
$355
2020
$2,379
2019
$6,754
2018
$361
Payments by company (2024)
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$310
Abbott Laboratories
$15
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$5,508
Abbott Laboratories
$2,438
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$2,200
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,326
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$613
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$451
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$173
Medtronic, Inc.
$132
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$64
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$50
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$42
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$23
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$20
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$19
Amgen Inc.
$16
B. Braun Interventional Systems Inc.
$13
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 77.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ARCTIC FRONT ADVANCE · AVEIR · Arctic Front · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Ensite Cardiac Mapping System · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL THERAPIES · Inpefa · LEQVIO · LifeVest · MITRACLIP · MULTAQ · No Marketed Product Name · PRALUENT · Qutenza · Repatha · SAMSCA · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · XARELTO
Should you be concerned? Industry payments are disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their purpose, legality, or effect on care. 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 →
Geographic Context
Cardiologists in nearby ZIP areas
101
County median income
$83,149
Nearest hospital to ZIP centroid (approximate)
ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL
4.6 mi
4.6 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | NPPES snapshot; verify current record |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | PECOS snapshot |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not included | 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. O'Brien is a remote & electrophysiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in NY), with 21 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. O'Brien experienced with inclisiran injection (leqvio) for cholesterol?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. O'Brien performed 5,396 inclisiran injection (leqvio) for cholesterol services. These records cover Medicare fee-for-service activity, including eligible younger beneficiaries; they do not measure total practice volume or clinical quality.
Does Dr. O'Brien receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. O'Brien received a total of $13,102 from 17 companies across 160 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their legality or effect on care. 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. O'Brien's costs compare to other cardiologists in Albany?
Dr. O'Brien's average Medicare payment per service is $37. 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. O'Brien) 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 the presence of registry, enrollment, activity or payment records, not verified experience or clinical quality. 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?
Source publication dates and the snapshots loaded on this site can differ. Rebuilding a page does not refresh its source records. Check the Medicare reporting year and the payment interval shown above; consult the linked official sources for newer releases and current registry details. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
This page combines public CMS records with calculated summaries and explanatory procedure labels. These transformations are not verbatim federal records. Sources: 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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