Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Veeranna Merla, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Carmel, NY
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Merla 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. Merla
Dr. Veeranna Merla is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Carmel, NY, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Merla performed 3,114 Medicare services across 2,486 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Merla received a total of $6,315 from 52 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 332 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. Merla 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 29% volume in NY
$6,315 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,114
Medicare services
Top 29% in NY for cardiovascular disease
2,486
Unique beneficiaries
$53
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~156 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
1,147 | $7 | $50 |
| 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. |
682 | $69 | $248 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
362 | $159 | $731 |
| 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. |
209 | $11 | $67 |
| 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. |
128 | $67 | $402 |
| 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. |
125 | $94 | $368 |
| 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. |
70 | $134 | $611 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
56 | $8 | $16 |
| Initial hospital admission, low complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving straightforward or low-level medical decision making, with at least 40 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
50 | $63 | $326 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
38 | $91 | $598 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
36 | $91 | $424 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
33 | $10 | $40 |
| 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. |
33 | $40 | $161 |
| Stress echocardiogram with ECG monitoring An ultrasound of the heart performed while monitoring heart rhythm during rest, exercise, or medication-induced stress, followed by a review and report of the findings. |
32 | $185 | $869 |
| 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. |
29 | $65 | $229 |
| 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. |
25 | $8 | $32 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
19 | $13 | $55 |
| 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. |
17 | $10 | $55 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
12 | $10 | $45 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
11 | $16 | $69 |
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.
11.6% high complexity
6.4% medium
82.0% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$6,315
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $902/year across 7 years
Top 27% in NY for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
52
Companies
332
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
$6,315 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$431
2023
$489
2022
$1,127
2021
$1,009
2020
$947
2019
$1,358
2018
$954
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$123
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$81
MEDICOMP INC
$58
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$54
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$50
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$41
Exact Sciences Corporation
$25
Top 3 companies account for 60.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
PFIZER INC.
$665
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$627
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$464
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$435
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$364
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$350
Amgen Inc.
$328
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$239
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$227
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$227
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$200
Abbott Laboratories
$163
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$157
HeartFlow, Inc.
$145
Corcept Therapeutics
$137
Novo Nordisk Inc
$135
MEDICOMP INC
$134
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$130
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$102
AbbVie Inc.
$90
Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.
$81
Lundbeck LLC
$72
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$54
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$50
Mannkind Corporation
$49
Exact Sciences Corporation
$45
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$41
Electromed, Inc.
$39
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$38
Lilly USA, LLC
$36
AbbVie, Inc.
$35
Shire North American Group Inc
$33
TherapeuticsMD, Inc.
$32
GENZYME CORPORATION
$31
Hologic, LLC
$30
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$29
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$27
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$27
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$25
Insulet Corporation
$24
Harmony Biosciences LLC
$24
Dexcom, Inc.
$20
Boston Scientific Corporation
$18
Genentech USA, Inc.
$17
Pharming Healthcare, Inc.
$17
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$17
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$16
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$15
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$13
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Inc.
$13
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 27.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AFREZZA · ANNOVERA · ANORO ELLIPTA · APTIMA · AREXVY · Arcalyst · Azure · BELSOMRA · BENLYSTA · BRILINTA · CAMZYOS · CARDIAC MONITOR · CHANTIX · Cologuard Collection Kit · Corlanor · DUPIXENT · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Edarbi · FARXIGA · FASENRA · FFRct · FREESTYLE LIBRE · FreeStyle Libre · FreeStyle Libre blood glucose Flash Monitoring System · GARDASIL 9 · General - Pain Management · HETLIOZ · IMVEXXY · INVOKANA · JARDIANCE · KEVZARA · Kerendia · Korlym · LEQVIO · LOKELMA · Livalo · NATPARA · NORTHERA · NUCALA · OFEV · Omnipod · Ozempic · PNEUMOVAX 23 · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · PREVNAR - 13 · PREVNAR 13 · Prolia · RUCONEST · Repatha · SHINGRIX · SMARTVEST · STEGLATRO · SYNTHROID · Synthroid · TALTZ · TEGSEDI · TELEPATCH CARDIAC MONITOR · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · Tirosint · Trintellix · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · Wakix · XARELTO · Xofluza · Yupelri · ZENPEP · inCourage
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
Cardiologists within 10 mi
115
Per 100K population
117.4
County median income
$127,405
Nearest hospital
PUTNAM HOSPITAL 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. Merla is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 29% in NY), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Merla experienced with ekg interpretation and report?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Merla performed 1,147 ekg interpretation and report 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. Merla receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Merla received a total of $6,315 from 52 companies across 332 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. Merla's costs compare to other cardiologists in Carmel?
Dr. Merla's average Medicare payment per service is $53. 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. Merla) 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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