Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Richard Foster, MD
Radiation Oncology · Pittsburgh, PA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Foster 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. Foster
Dr. Richard Foster is a radiation oncology specialist in Pittsburgh, PA, with 21 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Foster performed 1,430 Medicare services across 1,311 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Foster received a total of $688 from 6 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 10 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in radiation oncology. 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. Foster 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 in practice
▲ 1,430 Medicare services
$688 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,430
Medicare services
Bottom 41% in PA for radiation oncology
1,311
Unique beneficiaries
$28
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~68 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the chest taken from a single angle. This imaging test is used to visualize the structures within the chest cavity. |
432 | $6 | $29 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
173 | $7 | $34 |
| CT scan of head/brain, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the head or brain without the use of contrast dye. |
120 | $27 | $128 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
92 | $10 | $39 |
| CT scan of chest blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the chest. |
65 | $62 | $273 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
61 | $66 | $275 |
| CT scan of upper spine, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the upper spine. This procedure is performed without the use of contrast dye. |
49 | $35 | $161 |
| Radiologist review of CT-guided needle placement A radiologist reviews the CT imaging used to guide the placement of a needle. |
48 | $55 | $222 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
31 | $11 | $45 |
| CT scan of abdominal and pelvic blood vessels with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to visualize the blood vessels in the abdomen and pelvis. |
28 | $81 | $328 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
28 | $14 | $58 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
25 | $8 | $40 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
23 | $6 | $31 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
22 | $41 | $187 |
| Core needle biopsy of lung or mediastinum A procedure to remove a small tissue sample from the lung or the space between the lungs using a needle inserted through the skin. |
18 | $110 | $455 |
| CT scan of chest, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest area that uses X-rays to create detailed images without the use of contrast dye. |
18 | $35 | $175 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the abdomen taken from a single angle to visualize internal structures. |
18 | $6 | $29 |
| CT scan of head blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the head. |
17 | $57 | $263 |
| CT scan of neck blood vessels with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses dye to visualize the blood vessels in the neck. This imaging test helps examine the structure and flow within the neck's vascular system. |
17 | $58 | $263 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
15 | $61 | $262 |
| Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter for infusion, age 5+ A surgical procedure to place a long-term catheter into a large vein for delivering medications or fluids. The catheter is tunneled under the skin to reduce infection risk and provide stable access for patients aged 5 and older. |
14 | $199 | $830 |
| Liver needle biopsy through skin A procedure in which a needle is inserted through the skin to remove a small sample of liver tissue for examination. |
14 | $68 | $273 |
| Limited retroperitoneal ultrasound A focused ultrasound exam of the area behind the abdominal cavity to evaluate specific structures. |
14 | $18 | $89 |
| Central venous port insertion A surgical procedure to place a small reservoir under the skin for long-term access to the bloodstream. The device is connected to a vein to allow for repeated medication administration or blood draws. |
13 | $255 | $1,070 |
| Injection into lower spine canal with imaging guidance A procedure where a substance is injected into the lower part of the spinal canal. The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
13 | $76 | $308 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
13 | $7 | $43 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
13 | $6 | $26 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis using contrast dye before and after administration to visualize internal structures. |
13 | $69 | $301 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck soft tissue This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the soft tissues in the head and neck area. It allows for the visualization of structures beneath the skin without using radiation. |
12 | $19 | $87 |
| Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration A procedure to remove a small sample of bone marrow and liquid for laboratory testing. The sample is analyzed to help diagnose various medical conditions. |
11 | $61 | $257 |
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.
1.0% high complexity
37.6% medium
61.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2023 ↗$688
Total received (2019-2023)
Avg $172/year across 4 years
Top 27% in PA for radiation oncology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
6
Companies
10
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
$688 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2023
$116
2022
$13
2021
$48
2019
$511
Payments by company (2023)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$92
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$24
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2023 payments
All-time payments by company (2019-2023) ›
Stryker Corporation
$511
Boston Scientific Corporation
$92
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$34
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$24
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$14
Penumbra, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 92.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
EMBOLD Fibered · EkoSonic · IVS - VERTEBRAL AUGMENTATION PRODUCTS · Indigo System · TIPS Set · Venovo · WATCHMAN
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
Radiation oncologists within 10 mi
362
Per 100K population
29.2
County median income
$76,393
Nearest hospital
WEST PENN HOSPITAL
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 2023 |
| 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. Foster is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Foster experienced with chest x-ray, 1 view?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Foster performed 432 chest x-ray, 1 view 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. Foster receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Foster received a total of $688 from 6 companies across 10 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. Foster's costs compare to other radiation oncologists in Pittsburgh?
Dr. Foster's average Medicare payment per service is $28. 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. Foster) 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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