Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Norbert Brehm, MD
Urology Physician · Corpus Christi, 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. Brehm 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. Brehm?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Brehm
Dr. Norbert Brehm is an urology physician in Corpus Christi, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Brehm performed 7,423 Medicare services across 4,678 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Brehm received a total of $2,634 from 24 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 133 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in urology physician. 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. Brehm 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 14% volume in TX
$2,634 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗7,423
Medicare services
Top 14% in TX for urology physician
4,678
Unique beneficiaries
$43
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~371 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual urinalysis with microscopic examination A urine test performed manually without automated equipment. The sample is examined under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
1,926 | $4 | $25 |
| 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. |
1,221 | $92 | $371 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
1,162 | $8 | $31 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
480 | $8 | $15 |
| 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. |
461 | $61 | $257 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 455 | $18 | $105 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 246 | $135 | $750 |
| 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. |
186 | $0 | $30 |
| Cystourethroscopy A diagnostic exam of the bladder and urethra using an endoscope to visually inspect the urinary tract. |
159 | $179 | $683 |
| 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. |
157 | $122 | $482 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
115 | $36 | $162 |
| Insertion of temporary bladder tube | 94 | $32 | $129 |
| 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. |
72 | $62 | $230 |
| Subcutaneous or intramuscular chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering anti-cancer hormonal medication through an injection into the tissue under the skin or into a muscle. |
63 | $25 | $97 |
| Imaging of urinary tract with contrast An imaging test of the urinary tract performed after a contrast agent is injected to enhance visibility of the structures. |
61 | $19 | $104 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
61 | $100 | $377 |
| Simple insertion of temporary bladder tube A procedure to place a temporary tube into the bladder. This allows for the drainage of urine from the bladder. |
56 | $44 | $178 |
| Urethral dilation using endoscope A procedure to widen the urethra using a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope. This helps to open a narrowed urethral passage. |
50 | $232 | $930 |
| 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. |
50 | $10 | $41 |
| Simple change of bladder tube | 37 | $67 | $280 |
| Electronic assessment of bladder emptying A test that uses electronic monitoring to evaluate how well the bladder empties urine. |
36 | $3 | $22 |
| Abdominal device insertion with pressure and urine flow study A procedure involving the placement of a device into the abdomen, accompanied by a study to measure pressure and urine flow rate. |
35 | $84 | $310 |
| Complex urodynamic pressure flow study A test that measures the pressure of urine flow in the bladder during voiding to evaluate how well the bladder and urethra are functioning. |
34 | $151 | $593 |
| Non-needle muscle activity measurement of bladder and bowel openings This procedure measures and records the electrical activity of muscles at the bladder and bowel openings without using needles. |
33 | $14 | $102 |
| Ureteral stent insertion via endoscope A flexible tube is inserted into the ureter using an endoscope to keep the passage open and allow urine to flow from the kidney to the bladder. |
33 | $108 | $543 |
| Simple measurement of urine flow pressure in bladder A test that measures the pressure of urine flow within the bladder. This procedure assesses bladder function by recording pressure changes during urination. |
29 | $171 | $650 |
| 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. |
21 | $85 | $324 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
18 | $19 | $105 |
| Cystoscopy with chemical ablation of bladder A procedure where a camera is used to examine the bladder and a chemical agent is applied to destroy abnormal tissue. |
17 | $123 | $743 |
| Endoscopic removal of foreign body, stone, or stent from urethra or bladder A procedure to remove a foreign object, stone, or stent from the urethra or bladder using an endoscope. The endoscope is a thin tube with a camera inserted into the urinary tract to locate and extract the item. |
17 | $226 | $952 |
| Ureteral stent insertion via cystoscopy A tube is placed into the ureter using an endoscope inserted through the bladder. |
14 | $41 | $553 |
| Prostate gland biopsy A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination. |
12 | $166 | $699 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
12 | $107 | $582 |
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
20.8% medium
78.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$2,634
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $376/year across 7 years
Bottom 45% in TX for urology physician
24
Companies
133
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
$2,469 (93.8%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$165 (6.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$444
2023
$360
2022
$376
2021
$830
2020
$126
2019
$150
2018
$348
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$838
Teleflex LLC
$400
ABBVIE INC.
$198
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$182
Allergan Inc.
$153
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$117
UROVANT SCIENCES INC
$113
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$86
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$74
AbbVie Inc.
$65
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$49
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$44
Boston Scientific Corporation
$44
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$44
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$37
Medtronic, Inc.
$33
UroGen Pharma, Inc.
$28
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$25
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$24
UROGEN PHARMA, INC.
$20
TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$16
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$15
HealthTronics Stone Solutions, LLC
$11
Top 3 companies account for 54.5% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AMS 700 CXR RTE Kit · AquaBeam Robotic System · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · Dornier MedTech · ELIGARD · ERLEADA · Erleada · GEMTESA · GENERAL ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION · GENERAL - ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION · INTERSTIM · JELMYTO · KEYTRUDA · MYRBETRIQ · Myrbetriq · NOCDURNA · Nubeqa · OPDIVO · ORGOVYX · PROVENGE · UroLift System · VESICARE · XIAFLEX · XTANDI · Xtandi · ZYTIGA
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 (94%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $35 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Urology physicians within 10 mi
11
Per 100K population
3.1
County median income
$66,021
Nearest hospital
CORPUS CHRISTI MEDICAL CENTER,THE
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. Brehm is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 14% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Brehm experienced with manual urinalysis with microscopic examination?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Brehm performed 1,926 manual urinalysis with microscopic examination 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. Brehm receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Brehm received a total of $2,634 from 24 companies across 133 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. Brehm's costs compare to other urology physicians in Corpus Christi?
Dr. Brehm's average Medicare payment per service is $43. 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. Brehm) 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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