Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Kevin Schlessel, M.D.
Rheumatology · Columbus, OH
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Schlessel 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. Schlessel
Dr. Kevin Schlessel is a rheumatology specialist in Columbus, OH, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Schlessel performed 53,500 Medicare services across 3,210 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Schlessel received a total of $73,936 from 40 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 602 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in rheumatology. 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. Schlessel 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 11% volume in OH
$73,936 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗53,500
Medicare services
Top 11% in OH for rheumatology
3,210
Unique beneficiaries
$20
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~2,675 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golimumab infusion (Simponi Aria) Administration of golimumab medication directly into a vein. This code specifies the dosage amount of 1 milligram for intravenous delivery. |
25,550 | $10 | $38 |
| Infliximab infusion (Remicade) An injection of infliximab, excluding biosimilar versions, administered in a 10 mg dose. |
11,900 | $26 | $172 |
| Abatacept infusion (Orencia) An injection of abatacept administered under the direct supervision of a physician. This code is used for Medicare when the drug is not self-administered. |
7,600 | $34 | $61 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 2,340 | $19 | $36 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
703 | $1 | $3 |
| 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. |
672 | $87 | $165 |
| 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. |
549 | $8 | $31 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
512 | $97 | $500 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
474 | $10 | $29 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
417 | $8 | $10 |
| Sed rate test (inflammation marker) This automated test measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube to detect inflammation in the body. |
388 | $3 | $21 |
| C-reactive protein test (inflammation marker) A blood test that measures the level of C-reactive protein to detect the presence of infection or inflammation in the body. |
352 | $5 | $33 |
| Autoimmune disorder antibody test A laboratory test that measures antibodies in the blood to help assess for autoimmune disorders. |
217 | $18 | $46 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
130 | $6 | $88 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
116 | $59 | $189 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
104 | $29 | $123 |
| Complement and antigen measurement A laboratory test to measure levels of complement proteins and antigens in the blood. |
97 | $12 | $64 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
88 | $4 | $30 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
88 | $0 | $6 |
| Non-hormonal chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering non-hormonal anti-neoplastic chemotherapy medication via injection into the skin or muscle tissue. |
87 | $53 | $172 |
| 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. |
76 | $59 | $120 |
| 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. |
68 | $36 | $189 |
| X-ray of hand, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
63 | $23 | $50 |
| 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. |
62 | $5 | $14 |
| Liver enzyme (SGPT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme SGPT to assess liver function. |
58 | $5 | $22 |
| Albumin level test A blood test that measures the amount of albumin, a protein made by the liver, in your body. |
57 | $5 | $14 |
| Tuberculosis blood test (gamma interferon) A blood test that measures the immune system's response to tuberculosis bacteria using gamma interferon levels. |
57 | $61 | $154 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
57 | $12 | $77 |
| Liver enzyme (SGOT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme SGOT to help assess liver health. |
52 | $5 | $21 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
51 | $45 | $280 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
47 | $7 | $25 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
44 | $21 | $120 |
| Knee X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
41 | $25 | $57 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
39 | $3 | $20 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
38 | $16 | $70 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
35 | $34 | $92 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 40 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of up to 40 mg. |
34 | $3 | $10 |
| 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. |
29 | $123 | $255 |
| 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. |
25 | $6 | $34 |
| Iron level test | 25 | $6 | $26 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
24 | $14 | $34 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
20 | $15 | $45 |
| Parathyroid hormone level test A blood test that measures the amount of parathyroid hormone in your body. This hormone helps regulate calcium levels in the blood and bones. |
20 | $40 | $90 |
| 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. |
18 | $118 | $245 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
17 | $40 | $89 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
13 | $9 | $29 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
13 | $4 | $20 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
11 | $13 | $44 |
| Total bilirubin level test A blood test that measures the total amount of bilirubin, a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells, in your body. |
11 | $5 | $12 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
11 | $13 | $45 |
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.
85.3% high complexity
6.8% medium
7.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$73,936
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $10,562/year across 7 years
Top 11% in OH for rheumatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
40
Companies
602
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
$33,889 (45.8%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$29,935 (40.5%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$10,112 (13.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,480
2023
$3,132
2022
$16,899
2021
$513
2020
$7,203
2019
$26,217
2018
$16,492
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$1,645
Amgen Inc.
$458
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$243
UCB, Inc.
$223
PFIZER INC.
$185
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$142
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$114
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$112
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$77
Lilly USA, LLC
$52
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$39
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
$38
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
SOBI, INC
$30
Genentech USA, Inc.
$21
Organon Llc
$20
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$19
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$17
Celgene Corporation
$15
Top 3 companies account for 67.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$22,716
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$22,625
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$17,188
ABBVIE INC.
$2,531
AbbVie Inc.
$1,511
Amgen Inc.
$1,192
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$1,122
PFIZER INC.
$679
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$648
UCB, Inc.
$629
AbbVie, Inc.
$613
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$337
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$266
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$240
Genentech USA, Inc.
$239
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$212
Lilly USA, LLC
$180
Horizon Pharma plc
$175
Exeltis, USA Inc.
$126
GENZYME CORPORATION
$90
CARDINAL HEALTH 108 LLC
$76
Cardinal Health 110, LLC
$72
Radius Health, Inc.
$66
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$44
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
$38
Organon LLC
$36
Celgene Corporation
$35
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$35
Mallinckrodt LLC
$34
SOBI, INC
$30
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$22
Organon Llc
$20
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$18
Mylan Institutional Inc.
$18
Sandoz Inc.
$16
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$14
Mission Pharmacal Company
$14
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$12
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$11
FIDIA PHARMA USA INC.
$6
Top 3 companies account for 84.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · Actemra · Aquoral · BENLYSTA · Bimzelx · COSENTYX · Cimzia · Cryvista · EMBEDA · EVENITY · EVUSHELD · Enbrel · FORTEO · HUMIRA · HYRIMOZ · Hulio · Humira · Hymovis · IDACIO · ILARIS · INFLECTRA · KEVZARA · KEVZARA SARILUMAB INJECTION · KINERET · KRYSTEXXA · LUPKYNIS · LYRICA · NUCALA · OCTAGAM IMMUNE GLOBULIN (HUMAN) · ORENCIA · Otrexup · PURIFIED CORTROPHIN GEL · RAYOS · REMICADE · RENFLEXIS · RINVOQ · Rinvoq · Rituxan · SAPHNELO · SIMPONI ARIA · SKYRIZI · STELARA · STRENSIQ · SYNVISC-ONE · Strensiq · TALTZ · TAVNEOS · TREMFYA · Tavneos · Tymlos · ULTOMIRIS · XELJANZ
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 (46%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in rheumatology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware.
Geographic Context
Rheumatologists within 10 mi
43
Per 100K population
3.3
County median income
$73,795
Nearest hospital
GRANT MEDICAL 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. Schlessel is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% in OH), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 11% of OH peers, 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. Schlessel experienced with golimumab infusion (simponi aria)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Schlessel performed 25,550 golimumab infusion (simponi aria) 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. Schlessel receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Schlessel received a total of $73,936 from 40 companies across 602 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. Schlessel's costs compare to other rheumatologists in Columbus?
Dr. Schlessel's average Medicare payment per service is $20. 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. Schlessel) 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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