Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Balesh Sharma, MD
Hematology & Oncology · Brownsville, TX
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. Sharma 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. Sharma
Dr. Balesh Sharma is a hematology & oncology specialist in Brownsville, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sharma performed 18,765 Medicare services across 2,629 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sharma received a total of $7,461 from 50 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 175 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in hematology & 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. Sharma 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 33% volume in TX
$7,461 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗18,765
Medicare services
Top 33% in TX for hematology & oncology
2,629
Unique beneficiaries
$13
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~988 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron sucrose injection (Venofer) An injection of iron sucrose used to replenish iron levels in the body. |
7,200 | $0 | $2 |
| Epoetin alfa injection (Retacrit) for anemia An injection of a biosimilar form of epoetin alfa used for non-end-stage renal disease purposes. The dose administered is 1000 units. |
2,950 | $6 | $28 |
| 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. |
1,926 | $0 | $3 |
| 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. |
1,068 | $8 | $36 |
| 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. |
940 | $87 | $368 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
861 | $10 | $64 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
785 | $8 | $20 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
354 | $0 | $1 |
| Iron level test | 309 | $6 | $27 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
309 | $9 | $35 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
307 | $13 | $60 |
| 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. |
218 | $10 | $96 |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level test A blood test that measures the amount of lactate dehydrogenase, an enzyme found in many body tissues. It helps assess tissue damage or disease. |
196 | $6 | $31 |
| Reticulated platelet measurement A blood test that measures the level of young, newly formed platelets in the body. |
146 | $35 | $143 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
140 | $93 | $707 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
137 | $46 | $313 |
| 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. |
118 | $62 | $250 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
106 | $6 | $431 |
| 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. |
80 | $117 | $565 |
| Manual white blood cell count A laboratory test that involves examining a sample under a microscope to manually count the number of white blood cells present. |
79 | $4 | $22 |
| Complete blood count (CBC), automated An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. |
79 | $6 | $34 |
| Additional sequential IV infusion, 1 hour or less This code represents an additional intravenous infusion administered sequentially to a primary infusion. It covers the administration time of one hour or less. |
65 | $20 | $157 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
58 | $11 | $108 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 53 | $18 | $94 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
53 | $21 | $161 |
| Intravenous infusion of new drug or substance, 1 hour or less This procedure involves administering a new medication or substance directly into a vein through an existing access site. The infusion is completed within one hour or less. |
41 | $45 | $344 |
| Nuclear medicine scan from skull base to mid-thigh with CT A nuclear medicine imaging study covering the area from the base of the skull to the middle of the thighs, performed alongside a CT scan. |
37 | $1,082 | $4,802 |
| Fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries | 34 | $90 | $657 |
| Irrigation of implanted venous access device This procedure involves flushing an implanted venous access device to clear blockages or maintain patency. It ensures the device remains functional for delivering medications or fluids. |
28 | $16 | $114 |
| 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. |
19 | $129 | $523 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
16 | $47 | $821 |
| 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. |
15 | $175 | $1,067 |
| Automated red blood cell count with calculations A blood test that automatically counts red blood cells and performs additional calculations to assess blood health. |
14 | $5 | $26 |
| 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. |
13 | $108 | $694 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
11 | $8 | $49 |
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.
2.0% high complexity
69.0% medium
28.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,461
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,066/year across 7 years
Top 36% in TX for hematology & oncology
50
Companies
175
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
$7,183 (96.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$279 (3.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,552
2023
$2,004
2022
$1,287
2021
$151
2020
$225
2019
$1,074
2018
$1,168
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$1,014
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$833
Lilly USA, LLC
$478
Eisai Inc.
$417
Genentech USA, Inc.
$393
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$337
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$331
Amgen Inc.
$301
Taiho Oncology, Inc.
$198
Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.
$171
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$169
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$146
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$143
Celgene Corporation
$128
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$128
Tempus AI, Inc
$127
PFIZER INC.
$114
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$114
EISAI INC.
$111
BeiGene USA, Inc.
$111
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$106
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$105
Exelixis Inc.
$104
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$102
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$102
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$90
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$86
Sobi, Inc
$85
Blueprint Medicines Corporation
$85
ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.
$82
GENZYME CORPORATION
$80
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$79
Seagen Inc.
$72
Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.
$67
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$59
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$57
TAIHO ONCOLOGY, INC.
$35
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$33
ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC
$31
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
SOBI, INC
$30
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$29
Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation
$25
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$23
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$22
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.
$18
Stemline Therapeutics Inc.
$18
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc
$17
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$16
Acrotech Biopharma LLC
$12
Top 3 companies account for 31.2% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADSTILADRIN · ALUNBRIG · AYVAKIT · Avastin · BELEODAQ · BRUKINSA · CYRAMZA · Cabometyx · DARZALEX · DOPTELET · ENJAYMO · ERLEADA · Empaveli · Enhertu · Erleada · FRUZAQLA · Fabhalta · GAZYVA · Halaven · IBRANCE · IMFINZI · INLYTA · KEYTRUDA · KISQALI · KRAZATI · Kadcyla · Kyprolis · LIBTAYO · LONSURF · LUMAKRAS · LYNPARZA · Lenvima · Lonsurf · NERLYNX · Nubeqa · OJJAARA · OPDIVO · OPDUALAG · ORGOVYX · Onivyde · Orserdu · Perjeta · Pomalyst · Prolia · REBLOZYL · RYBREVANT · SARCLISA · SCEMBLIX · Stivarga · TAGRISSO · TECVAYLI · TIVDAK · TRUSELTIQ · Tavalisse · Tecentriq · Trodelvy · VERZENIO · VPRIV · VYXEOS · XALKORI · XPOVIO · XT CDX · Xtandi · ZEPZELCA · clonoSEQ
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 (96%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $40 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Hematology & oncology specialists within 10 mi
2
Per 100K population
0.5
County median income
$51,334
Nearest hospital
VALLEY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
9.0 mi
9.0 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. Sharma is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, 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. Sharma experienced with iron sucrose injection (venofer)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sharma performed 7,200 iron sucrose injection (venofer) 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. Sharma receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sharma received a total of $7,461 from 50 companies across 175 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. Sharma's costs compare to other hematology & oncology specialists in Brownsville?
Dr. Sharma's average Medicare payment per service is $13. 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. Sharma) 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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