Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Christopher Richards, MD

Neuroradiology Physician · Austin, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
12554 RIATA VISTA CIR, Austin, TX 78727
5127955100
In practice since 2005 (20 years)
NPI: 1194729723 verify on NPPES ↗
High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 3 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. Richards 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. Richards

Dr. Christopher Richards is a neuroradiology physician in Austin, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Richards performed 5,289 Medicare services across 858 unique beneficiaries.

The Data Coverage level for Dr. Richards is 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 23% volume in TX

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
5,289
Medicare services
Top 23% in TX for neuroradiology physician
858
Unique beneficiaries
$9
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
MRI contrast dye injection (gadobutrol) 3,349 $0 $1
Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)
A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures.
 1,125 $0 $1
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.
 298 $30 $503
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.
 102 $34 $625
MRI of lower spine, without contrast
A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lower spinal canal that does not use contrast dye to create detailed images of the spine.
 73 $111 $770
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.
 64 $25 $137
MRI of brain with and without contrast
An MRI scan of the brain using contrast dye both before and after administration to provide detailed images of brain structures.
 45 $192 $1,269
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.
 36 $61 $1,228
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.
 31 $63 $1,021
MRI of upper spine without contrast
An MRI scan of the upper spinal canal that does not use contrast dye. This imaging test uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the spine.
 31 $114 $819
CT scan of face, without contrast
A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the facial structures. This procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye.
 30 $29 $633
CT scan of middle spine with contrast
A CT scan of the middle spine using contrast dye to create detailed images of the area.
 21 $41 $723
CT scan of neck soft tissue with contrast
A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the soft tissues in the neck.
 19 $74 $336
CT scan of lower spine with contrast
A computed tomography scan of the lower spine using a contrast dye to enhance the images. This imaging test provides detailed views of the spinal structures.
 19 $44 $662
CT scan of lower spine, without contrast
A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the lower spine using X-rays without the use of contrast dye.
 13 $68 $349
MRI scan of brain, without contrast
A magnetic resonance imaging test of the brain that does not use contrast dye. This procedure creates detailed images of the brain's structure using magnetic fields and radio waves.
 11 $106 $761
CT scan of middle spine, without contrast
A CT scan of the middle spine performed without the use of contrast dye. This imaging test uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the vertebrae and surrounding structures.
 11 $36 $619
MRI of lower spine with and without contrast
An MRI scan of the lower spinal canal performed both before and after the administration of contrast dye to enhance image detail.
 11 $209 $1,492
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.
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Geographic Context

Neuroradiology physicians within 10 mi
17
Per 100K population
1.3
County median income
$97,169
Nearest hospital
NORTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CENTER
2.9 mi

Data Sources

Provider Registry ✓ NPPES Weekly updates
Medicare Enrollment ✓ PECOS Monthly updates
Practice Data ✓ Medicare Util. Annual (CY lag)
Industry Payments — No payments N/A
Disciplinary History — Not public N/A

This provider has data in 3 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of High. This measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →

Summary

Dr. Richards is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 23% in TX), 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. Richards experienced with mri contrast dye injection (gadobutrol)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Richards performed 3,349 mri contrast dye injection (gadobutrol) 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.
How do Dr. Richards's costs compare to other neuroradiology physicians in Austin?
Dr. Richards's average Medicare payment per service is $9. 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 High for Dr. Richards) 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 ↗, 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

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →