Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Ronald Heine, M.D.
Family Medicine · Athens, TX
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. Heine 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. Heine?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Heine
Dr. Ronald Heine is a family medicine specialist in Athens, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Heine performed 5,278 Medicare services across 2,773 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Heine received a total of $5,267 from 39 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 303 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family medicine. 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. Heine 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 3% volume in TX
$5,267 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,278
Medicare services
Top 3% in TX for family medicine
2,773
Unique beneficiaries
$34
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~264 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
793 | $81 | $240 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
547 | $8 | $10 |
| 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. |
517 | $7 | $25 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
507 | $10 | $70 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
420 | $13 | $75 |
| 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. |
338 | $10 | $52 |
| Ceftriaxone antibiotic injection This code represents the administration of ceftriaxone sodium, an antibiotic medication. The charge is calculated for every 250 mg of the drug administered. |
190 | $0 | $20 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
172 | $10 | $35 |
| 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. |
148 | $59 | $150 |
| 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. |
126 | $127 | $285 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
115 | $16 | $52 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
112 | $3 | $22 |
| Methylprednisolone acetate injection, 80 mg An injection of 80 mg of methylprednisolone acetate, a corticosteroid medication. |
112 | $8 | $30 |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) An intramuscular injection of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It is used to protect against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. |
111 | $282 | $365 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
110 | $24 | $25 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
105 | $4 | $25 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
93 | $29 | $30 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
89 | $68 | $70 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
82 | $29 | $82 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
81 | $1 | $25 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
71 | $1 | $40 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
54 | $125 | $155 |
| 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. |
51 | $4 | $15 |
| 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. |
45 | $23 | $80 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
45 | $19 | $55 |
| Respiratory virus detection test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and influenza viruses. |
35 | $53 | $160 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
31 | $14 | $78 |
| 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. |
30 | $4 | $14 |
| Screening mammography An X-ray of the breast used to detect breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. |
29 | $89 | $300 |
| 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. |
26 | $37 | $330 |
| Home health plan of care re-certification A physician reviews the patient's status and contacts the home health agency to re-certify the plan of care without the patient being present. |
25 | $29 | $65 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
16 | $50 | $170 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 14 | $17 | $120 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test A blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube to detect inflammation in the body. This specific method is performed manually rather than using an automated machine. |
14 | $4 | $18 |
| 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. |
12 | $169 | $250 |
| Home health plan of care certification Certification by a physician or allowed practitioner for Medicare-covered home health services under a home health plan of care. This includes contacting the home health agency and reviewing reports of patient status required by physicians. |
12 | $40 | $85 |
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.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$5,267
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $752/year across 7 years
Top 12% in TX for family medicine
39
Companies
303
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
$5,267 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$643
2023
$630
2022
$613
2021
$1,084
2020
$540
2019
$822
2018
$935
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novo Nordisk Inc
$1,053
PFIZER INC.
$533
Amgen Inc.
$495
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$414
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$412
AbbVie Inc.
$285
Lilly USA, LLC
$178
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$170
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$169
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$163
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$152
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$133
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$131
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$123
ABBVIE INC.
$114
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$80
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$64
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$60
Exact Sciences Corporation
$50
Allergan Inc.
$46
AbbVie, Inc.
$42
Lundbeck LLC
$40
Allergan, Inc.
$32
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$32
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$28
Nevro Corp.
$25
Corium, LLC
$25
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$23
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$23
Medtronic, Inc.
$23
Cranial Technologies, Inc
$21
Insulet Corporation
$19
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$18
Radius Health, Inc.
$16
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
Shield Therapeutics Inc
$16
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$13
Shire North American Group Inc
$12
Top 3 companies account for 39.5% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCRUFER · AIRSUPRA · ANORO ELLIPTA · AREXVY · Aimovig · Azstarys · BELSOMRA · BREZTRI AEROSPHERE · BYDUREON · BYSTOLIC · BYVALSON · CHANTIX · CREON · Cologuard Collection Kit · Doc Band · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · Epclusa · FARXIGA · Flexitouch Plus · GARDASIL 9 · GATTEX · INPEN SMART INSULIN DELIVERY SYSTEM · INVOKANA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · LINZESS · MOUNJARO · NEXPLANON · NUEDEXTA · NURTEC ODT · OFEV · Omnia · Omnipod · Otezla · Ozempic · PNEUMOVAX 23 · PRADAXA · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · Prolia · REXULTI · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · STEGLATRO · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SYMBICORT · Saxenda · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · Tresiba · Tymlos · UBRELVY · UTIBRON NEOHALER · VOQUEZNA · VRAYLAR · VYEPTI · Vascepa · Veozah · Victoza · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Yupelri
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.
Equivalent to $100 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
37
Per 100K population
44.2
County median income
$63,955
Nearest hospital
UT HEALTH EAST TEXAS ATHENS 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. Heine is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 12% of TX peers, with 20 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. Heine experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Heine performed 793 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Heine receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Heine received a total of $5,267 from 39 companies across 303 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. Heine's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Athens?
Dr. Heine's average Medicare payment per service is $34. 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. Heine) 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
Specialty guide
Understanding Family Medicine
Common procedures, typical costs, and what industry payments mean in family medicine.
Same specialty & city
Family Medicine Physicians in Athens
Browse family medicine physicians in Athens ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Family Medicine Physicians in TX
Family medicine physicians ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Family Medicine Physicians in TX
Which TX family medicine physicians receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Novo Nordisk Inc Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Novo Nordisk Inc.
By company
PFIZER INC. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from PFIZER INC.
By company
Amgen Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Amgen 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. 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.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology