Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sammy Cox, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · Amarillo, TX
Practice pattern: Remote & Electrophysiology
— Practice combining remote and electrophysiology services
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. Cox 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. Cox
Dr. Sammy Cox is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Amarillo, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cox performed 17,844 Medicare services across 7,665 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cox received a total of $7,846 from 22 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 253 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. Cox is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 1% volume in TX
$7,846 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗17,844
Medicare services
Top 1% in TX for cardiovascular disease
7,665
Unique beneficiaries
$58
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~939 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
3,521 | $43 | $123 |
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
1,669 | $15 | $95 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart device, up to 30 days Remote evaluation of an implanted heart or blood vessel monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
1,601 | $18 | $75 |
| Remote pacemaker monitoring, 90 days Remote assessment of a pacemaker system, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless devices, performed up to 90 days apart. |
1,220 | $21 | $105 |
| 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. |
913 | $44 | $115 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart rhythm device Evaluation of data transmitted remotely from an implantable cardiovascular monitor, such as a loop recorder or subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor, over a period up to 30 days. |
787 | $26 | $54 |
| 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. |
770 | $6 | $69 |
| 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. |
655 | $87 | $276 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
640 | $44 | $66 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
612 | $37 | $140 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
494 | $55 | $180 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
454 | $38 | $154 |
| Remote evaluation of implantable defibrillator system Remote assessment of a single, dual, or multiple lead implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the previous evaluation. |
450 | $25 | $190 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
352 | $127 | $553 |
| 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. |
349 | $720 | $2,607 |
| 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. |
344 | $65 | $217 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
317 | $4 | $24 |
| 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. |
316 | $10 | $55 |
| Heart muscle strain imaging | 291 | $28 | $120 |
| Remote cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation, up to 30 days Review and analysis of data from a remote cardiac rhythm monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
270 | $18 | $54 |
| 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. |
142 | $108 | $427 |
| Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | 135 | $164 | $210 |
| 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. |
119 | $129 | $542 |
| 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. |
111 | $147 | $597 |
| 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. |
103 | $92 | $282 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
91 | $37 | $135 |
| 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. |
83 | $50 | $320 |
| 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. |
70 | $642 | $1,688 |
| 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. |
66 | $105 | $626 |
| Pacemaker insertion with heart chamber electrodes A surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker device and place electrodes into the upper and lower chambers of the heart to regulate heart rhythm. |
63 | $385 | $1,500 |
| Programming of dual lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with two leads to ensure proper function. |
61 | $72 | $240 |
| Pacemaker system evaluation Assessment of a pacemaker device, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless systems. |
61 | $42 | $120 |
| Programming of multiple lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with multiple leads to ensure proper function. |
58 | $73 | $285 |
| Programming of single lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for a single-lead implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to ensure proper function. |
54 | $57 | $200 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 46 | $216 | $939 |
| Remote physiologic monitoring setup and education Initial setup of remote monitoring equipment and patient education on its use. |
45 | $15 | $52 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
42 | $103 | $525 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
41 | $41 | $300 |
| Cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation Review and analysis of data recorded by a cardiac rhythm monitoring device to assess heart activity. |
38 | $36 | $75 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
38 | $155 | $500 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
37 | $103 | $132 |
| Complete ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts A complete ultrasound exam of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. This imaging test uses sound waves to visualize these blood vessels. |
30 | $87 | $525 |
| Pacemaker programming, single lead Adjustment and testing of a single-lead pacemaker to ensure it functions correctly. |
25 | $51 | $150 |
| 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. |
24 | $60 | $197 |
| Implantable defibrillator system check A check of the implanted defibrillator device to ensure it is functioning correctly. This evaluation covers single, dual, or multiple lead systems. |
21 | $44 | $185 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg vein image A radiologist reviews an image of a vein in one arm or leg. |
19 | $85 | $328 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
19 | $11 | $1,652 |
| External shock to heart to regulate heart beat A procedure that delivers an electric shock to the heart from outside the body to restore a normal heart rhythm. |
18 | $110 | $768 |
| Pacemaker system programming Adjustment and testing of a multi-lead pacemaker to ensure proper function and settings. |
18 | $56 | $200 |
| Coronary angiography A procedure to insert a tube into a coronary artery to capture diagnostic images of the heart's blood vessels. |
18 | $98 | $768 |
| 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. |
18 | $37 | $146 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis blood flow This procedure uses sound waves to create images of blood flow in the arteries and veins of the abdomen and pelvis. It evaluates the rate and direction of blood movement within these vessels. |
17 | $162 | $700 |
| Contrast injection for X-ray imaging Administration of a contrast agent into a vein in the arm or leg to enhance visibility during an X-ray imaging procedure. |
16 | $188 | $925 |
| Coronary stent placement A procedure to insert a stent into a coronary artery or its branch to keep it open, using balloon dilation during the process. |
16 | $445 | $1,575 |
| 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. |
16 | $37 | $135 |
| Hospital discharge day management, 30 minutes or less This service covers the final day of hospital care when the patient is being discharged. It includes coordination of care and instructions for the patient within a time frame of 30 minutes or less. |
15 | $59 | $193 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
13 | $64 | $328 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
12 | $76 | $310 |
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.
26.0% high complexity
9.9% medium
64.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,846
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,121/year across 7 years
Top 37% in TX for cardiovascular disease
22
Companies
253
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
$7,613 (97.0%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$233 (3.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,182
2023
$1,143
2022
$967
2021
$1,191
2020
$801
2019
$1,770
2018
$792
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
BIOTRONIK INC.
$2,362
ABIOMED
$2,120
Abbott Laboratories
$1,850
Medtronic, Inc.
$298
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$204
Terumo Medical Corporation
$198
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$168
PFIZER INC.
$127
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$83
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$80
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$59
Boston Scientific Corporation
$57
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$46
Cook Medical LLC
$39
Penumbra, Inc.
$38
Cardinal Health 200 LLC
$25
Cardinal Health 200, LLC
$20
ABBVIE INC.
$19
CORDIS US CORP.
$17
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$15
Amgen Inc.
$13
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$11
Top 3 companies account for 80.7% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABSOLUTE PRO · ADROIT · ASSURITY · Acticor · Acticor 7 VR-T DX · Allure Quadra RF CRT Pacemaker · BIOMONITOR · CAMZYOS · Confirm Rx · DIAMONDBACK CORONARY · DRAGONFLY OPSTAR · Dragonfly OCT · ELIQUIS · ENSITE PRECISION · ENTRESTO · Edora · Edora 8 DR-T · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve · Ellipse ICD · EluNIR Radaforolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System · EnSite Precision Cardiac Mapping System · Ensite Cardiac Mapping System · FRONTRUNNER XP CTO Catheter · Fortify Assura · GALLANT · HERCULINK ELITE · IGT_D Peripheral · Impella · Indigo System · JARDIANCE · JOT DX · KENGREAL · LEXISCAN · MAVYRET · MICRA · MINI TREK · Merlin Connectivity and Remote · OMNILINK ELITE · OPTIS · Omnilink Elite vascular stent system · Optis Coronary Imaging System · Optitorque · Orsiro Mission · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Perclose ProStyle · QUADRA ASSURA · Quadra Allure MP RF CRT Pacemkr · Quadra Assura CRT Defibrillator · Quartet CRT Lead · Repatha · Rivacor · SELECTSECURE · SUPERA · Solia · THORATEC HEARTMATE 3 LVAS IMPLANT KIT · VYNDAQEL · WATCHMAN Access System · XACT · XIENCE SIERRA · XIENCE SKYPOINT · Xience Sierra Coronary Stent System · ZILVER VENA
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 (97%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $44 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
24
Per 100K population
20.6
County median income
$50,448
Nearest hospital
NORTHWEST TEXAS 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 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 measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Cox is a remote & electrophysiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data. It describes data availability and patterns — not clinical quality. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Cox experienced with chronic care management, first 20 min/month?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Cox performed 3,521 chronic care management, first 20 min/month 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. Cox receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Cox received a total of $7,846 from 22 companies across 253 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. Cox's costs compare to other cardiologists in Amarillo?
Dr. Cox's average Medicare payment per service is $58. 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. Cox) 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. The Transparency Score measures 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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