Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Ping Lu, MD

Nuclear Medicine · Albany, NY
Practice pattern: Cardiac Imaging — Practice with significant diagnostic imaging and stress testing
Low-engagement
ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER, Albany, NY 12208
5182625149
In practice since 2006 (19 years)
NPI: 1144393265 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Lu 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. Lu? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →

What this data tells you about Dr. Lu

Dr. Ping Lu is a nuclear medicine specialist in Albany, NY, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Lu performed 1,204 Medicare services across 969 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Lu received a total of $782 from 11 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 14 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in nuclear medicine. 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. Lu 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 36% volume in NY $782 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
1,204
Medicare services
Top 36% in NY for nuclear medicine
969
Unique beneficiaries
$330
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~63 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
Bone density scan (DEXA)
A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures.
284 $9 $42
Piflufolastat F-18 diagnostic injection
A diagnostic injection of the radioactive tracer piflufolastat F-18 used for imaging. The dose specified is 1 millicurie.
189 $488 $790
Nuclear medicine scan from skull base to mid-thigh with CT
A nuclear medicine imaging study covering the area from the base of the skull to the middle of the thighs, performed alongside a CT scan.
172 $1,199 $5,135
Fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries 160 $411 $598
Technetium Tc-99m medronate diagnostic injection
An injection of Technetium Tc-99m medronate used for diagnostic imaging studies. The dose administered is up to 30 millicuries per study.
74 $56 $71
SPECT nuclear medicine scan, 1 area
A nuclear medicine imaging test using a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan to create detailed images of one specific area of the body.
64 $37 $602
Whole body bone and joint nuclear medicine scan
A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses a radioactive tracer to create pictures of the entire skeleton and joints. This scan helps evaluate bone health and detect abnormalities throughout the body.
55 $199 $497
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.
44 $57 $236
Lymphatic system nuclear medicine study
A nuclear medicine imaging test used to evaluate the structure and function of the lymphatic system.
28 $38 $212
Bone scan with multiple time points
A nuclear medicine imaging test that captures images of the bones at various intervals to assess bone health and detect abnormalities.
21 $229 $684
Nuclear heart scan after heart attack with SPECT
A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses a radioactive tracer to evaluate blood flow and function of the heart muscle following a heart attack. SPECT technology creates detailed 3D images of the heart to assess damage and viability.
20 $33 $135
Lung ventilation and perfusion scan
A nuclear medicine test that uses radioactive tracers to evaluate both air flow (ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) in the lungs.
20 $39 $169
Nuclear medicine stomach emptying study
A nuclear medicine test used to assess how quickly the stomach empties its contents.
19 $27 $179
Brain nuclear medicine study with metabolic evaluation
A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses radioactive tracers to evaluate brain metabolism. This procedure helps assess how brain tissues are functioning at a metabolic level.
16 $53 $318
Nuclear medicine liver and bile duct scan
A nuclear medicine imaging test to evaluate the liver and bile duct system.
15 $28 $117
Nuclear medicine liver and bile duct study with drugs
A nuclear medicine imaging test to examine the liver and bile duct system using administered drugs.
12 $30 $134
Nuclear medicine kidney blood flow and function study
A nuclear medicine test that evaluates blood flow and function of the kidneys.
11 $41 $404
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.
1.7% high complexity
59.7% medium
38.6% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$782
Total received (2019-2024)
Avg $156/year across 5 years
Top 28% in NY for nuclear medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
11
Companies
14
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
$782 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$371
2023
$77
2021
$120
2020
$50
2019
$164

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
GE HEALTHCARE
$254
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$79
PFIZER INC.
$19
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$19
Top 3 companies account for 95.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2019-2024) ›
GE HEALTHCARE
$254
PFIZER INC.
$128
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$120
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$79
Eisai Inc.
$50
Lilly USA, LLC
$49
bioMerieux Inc
$27
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$21
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$20
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$19
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 64.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ENTRESTO · ILLUCCIX · LEXISCAN · POSLUMA · SPECT Symiba Intevo · VYNDAQEL · Xofigo
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.

Looking for a nuclear medicine specialist in Albany?
Compare nuclear medicines in the Albany area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse nuclear medicines nearby

Geographic Context

Nuclear medicines within 10 mi
3
Per 100K population
1.0
County median income
$83,149
Nearest hospital
ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL
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. Lu is a cardiac imaging specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, 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. Lu experienced with bone density scan (dexa)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Lu performed 284 bone density scan (dexa) 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. Lu receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Lu received a total of $782 from 11 companies across 14 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. Lu's costs compare to other nuclear medicines in Albany?
Dr. Lu's average Medicare payment per service is $330. 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. Lu) 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 →
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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →