Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Robert Benton, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Troy, 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. Benton 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. Benton?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Benton
Dr. Robert Benton is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Troy, NY, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Benton performed 5,788 Medicare services across 4,509 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Benton received a total of $1,443 from 16 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 130 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. Benton 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 8% volume in NY
$1,443 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,788
Medicare services
Top 8% in NY for cardiovascular disease
4,509
Unique beneficiaries
$54
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~289 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. |
1,112 | $6 | $16 |
| 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. |
945 | $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. |
865 | $85 | $250 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
332 | $135 | $403 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
247 | $8 | $15 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
170 | $10 | $21 |
| 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. |
169 | $8 | $15 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
168 | $45 | $113 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
138 | $13 | $27 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
129 | $38 | $80 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
106 | $16 | $32 |
| 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. |
94 | $63 | $180 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
89 | $9 | $20 |
| 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. |
89 | $45 | $110 |
| 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. |
83 | $112 | $300 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
82 | $93 | $150 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
80 | $7 | $13 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
74 | $9 | $18 |
| 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. |
74 | $43 | $140 |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein test A blood test that measures high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to detect infection or inflammation. |
71 | $13 | $26 |
| 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. |
70 | $12 | $25 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
66 | $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. |
65 | $632 | $1,500 |
| 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. |
59 | $127 | $350 |
| 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. |
50 | $28 | $80 |
| 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. |
41 | $325 | $854 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
37 | $36 | $90 |
| Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | 34 | $392 | $591 |
| 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. |
28 | $128 | $372 |
| 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. |
28 | $132 | $341 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 25 | $162 | $375 |
| 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. |
25 | $36 | $90 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
23 | $8 | $17 |
| 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. |
21 | $91 | $230 |
| 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. |
18 | $201 | $540 |
| 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. |
17 | $1,236 | $3,200 |
| 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. |
17 | $91 | $259 |
| 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. |
16 | $5 | $10 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
16 | $4 | $8 |
| Cardiac enzyme level (CK-MB) test A blood test that measures the total level of creatine kinase, specifically the cardiac enzyme fraction, to help evaluate heart muscle damage. |
15 | $6 | $13 |
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.
5.7% high complexity
7.1% medium
87.2% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$1,443
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $206/year across 7 years
Bottom 43% in NY for cardiovascular disease
16
Companies
130
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
$1,443 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$569
2023
$482
2022
$101
2021
$157
2020
$24
2019
$75
2018
$35
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$428
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$70
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$20
Abbott Laboratories
$19
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$18
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 91.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$742
Abbott Laboratories
$251
PFIZER INC.
$74
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$70
GE HEALTHCARE
$52
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$51
CVRx, Inc.
$44
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$24
Novo Nordisk Inc
$21
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$20
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$19
Amgen Inc.
$17
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$17
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
BRACCO DIAGNOSTICS INC.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 73.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Arcalyst · Barostim Neo System · CAMZYOS · CARDIOGEN · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · JARDIANCE · LEQVIO · LifeVest · MITRACLIP · MULTAQ · Repatha · UPTRAVI · VYNDAQEL · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIENCE V · Xience Sierra Coronary Stent · Xience Sierra Coronary Stent System · Xience V coronary stent system · Xience Xpedition 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
Cardiologists within 10 mi
110
Per 100K population
68.6
County median income
$86,663
Nearest hospital
SAMARITAN HOSPITAL OF TROY, NEW YORK
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. Benton is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 8% 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. Benton experienced with ekg interpretation and report?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Benton performed 1,112 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. Benton receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Benton received a total of $1,443 from 16 companies across 130 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. Benton's costs compare to other cardiologists in Troy?
Dr. Benton's average Medicare payment per service is $54. 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. Benton) 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 →
Explore related providers
Same specialty & city
Cardiologists in Troy
Browse cardiologists in Troy ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Cardiologists in NY
Cardiologists ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Cardiologists in NY
Which NY cardiologists receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
By company
Abbott Laboratories Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Abbott Laboratories.
By company
PFIZER INC. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from PFIZER INC.
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