Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Peter Nicholas, D.O.
Rheumatology · Wyomissing, 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. Nicholas 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. Nicholas
Dr. Peter Nicholas is a rheumatology specialist in Wyomissing, PA, with 9 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Nicholas performed 10,010 Medicare services across 1,498 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Nicholas received a total of $3,945 from 23 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 136 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in rheumatology. 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. Nicholas 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.
✓ 9 years in practice
▲ Top 38% volume in PA
$3,945 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗10,010
Medicare services
Top 38% in PA for rheumatology
1,498
Unique beneficiaries
$22
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,112 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 7,020 | $18 | $30 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
1,044 | $1 | $4 |
| 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. |
334 | $83 | $140 |
| Autoimmune disorder antibody test A laboratory test that measures antibodies in the blood to help assess for autoimmune disorders. |
168 | $18 | $46 |
| 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. |
145 | $66 | $110 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
122 | $11 | $50 |
| X-ray of hand, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
87 | $22 | $60 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
85 | $8 | $10 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
76 | $51 | $209 |
| 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. |
58 | $36 | $197 |
| Normal saline infusion, 250 cc Administration of 250 cubic centimeters of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater fluid. |
58 | $1 | $15 |
| Immunoassay substance measurement A laboratory test that uses immunoassay techniques to measure the level of a specific substance in a sample. |
52 | $17 | $36 |
| 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. |
52 | $121 | $195 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
51 | $90 | $290 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 48 | $136 | $250 |
| 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. |
48 | $114 | $200 |
| 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. |
44 | $5 | $18 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 38 | $8 | $28 |
| 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. |
37 | $5 | $44 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
35 | $29 | $100 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis antibody test A blood test to measure antibodies used in assessing rheumatoid arthritis. |
32 | $13 | $55 |
| Non-hormonal chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering non-hormonal anti-neoplastic chemotherapy medication via injection into the skin or muscle tissue. |
30 | $37 | $120 |
| 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. |
27 | $40 | $75 |
| Rheumatoid factor level | 25 | $6 | $15 |
| DNA antibody test (native or double-stranded) A blood test that measures the level of antibodies targeting native or double-stranded DNA. This test is used to detect the presence of these specific antibodies in the body. |
24 | $13 | $44 |
| Measurement of dna antibody, single stranded | 24 | $12 | $46 |
| X-ray of foot, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the foot using two different angles to create pictures of the bones and joints. |
22 | $20 | $60 |
| 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. |
21 | $31 | $80 |
| Autoimmune disorder screening test A laboratory test used to screen for the presence of autoimmune disorders. |
21 | $12 | $44 |
| 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. |
20 | $21 | $60 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
18 | $36 | $75 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
18 | $40 | $169 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
18 | $69 | $211 |
| Drug screening test A laboratory test that uses a chemistry analyzer to detect the presence of drugs in a sample. |
18 | $58 | $200 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
17 | $42 | $168 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
16 | $39 | $100 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
15 | $41 | $290 |
| 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. |
15 | $80 | $125 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, medium joint Removal of fluid from a medium-sized joint or injection of medication into the joint space. |
14 | $35 | $181 |
| Ultrasound-guided small joint aspiration or injection This procedure involves removing fluid from or injecting medication into a small joint while using ultrasound imaging to guide the needle placement. |
13 | $57 | $173 |
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.
1.1% high complexity
84.0% medium
14.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$3,945
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $564/year across 7 years
Top 43% in PA for rheumatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
23
Companies
136
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
$3,527 (89.4%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$418 (10.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,127
2023
$1,388
2022
$259
2021
$108
2020
$16
2019
$15
2018
$32
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$581
Amgen Inc.
$386
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$375
ABBVIE INC.
$181
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$139
UCB, Inc.
$119
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$109
GENZYME CORPORATION
$82
Lilly USA, LLC
$56
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$38
Radius Health, Inc.
$23
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$18
Genentech USA, Inc.
$18
Top 3 companies account for 63.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Amgen Inc.
$803
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$784
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$475
ABBVIE INC.
$443
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$306
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$258
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$143
Lilly USA, LLC
$131
UCB, Inc.
$119
GENZYME CORPORATION
$82
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$74
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$56
Radius Health, Inc.
$55
Genentech USA, Inc.
$36
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$32
PFIZER INC.
$26
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$20
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$20
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$18
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$17
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$15
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$15
SI-BONE, Inc.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 52.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Actemra · Arcalyst · BENLYSTA · Bimzelx · COSENTYX · Cimzia · Crysvita · EVENITY · Enbrel · Iovera · KEVZARA · KRYSTEXXA · LUPKYNIS · OPSUMIT · ORENCIA · PURIFIED CORTROPHIN GEL · REMICADE · RINVOQ · SAPHNELO · SIMPONI ARIA · SKYRIZI · Strensiq · TALTZ · TAVNEOS · TREMFYA · Tymlos · XELJANZ · iFuse Implant
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 (89%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Rheumatologists within 10 mi
15
Per 100K population
3.5
County median income
$77,684
Nearest hospital
SURGICAL INSTITUTE OF READING
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. Nicholas is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Nicholas experienced with denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Nicholas performed 7,020 denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva) 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. Nicholas receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Nicholas received a total of $3,945 from 23 companies across 136 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. Nicholas's costs compare to other rheumatologists in Wyomissing?
Dr. Nicholas's average Medicare payment per service is $22. 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. Nicholas) 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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