Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Melissa Kirkwood, MD
Vascular Surgery Physician · Dallas, TX
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Consulting-driven
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. Kirkwood 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. Kirkwood
Dr. Melissa Kirkwood is a vascular surgery physician in Dallas, TX, with 16 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kirkwood performed 1,158 Medicare services across 1,071 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kirkwood received a total of $11,536 from 9 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 41 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in vascular surgery physician. The majority of payments are for consulting, which typically reflects recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Kirkwood 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.
✓ 16 years in practice
▲ Top 19% volume in TX
$11,536 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,158
Medicare services
Top 19% in TX for vascular surgery physician
1,071
Unique beneficiaries
$127
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~72 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
209 | $55 | $469 |
| 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. |
108 | $144 | $841 |
| 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. |
100 | $83 | $347 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to create images of the arteries in one leg or any grafts present in that leg. |
81 | $96 | $692 |
| 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. |
73 | $98 | $344 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
67 | $91 | $570 |
| 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. |
64 | $148 | $882 |
| 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. |
50 | $132 | $985 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries A non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to examine the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It evaluates blood flow and checks for blockages or other vascular issues. |
48 | $95 | $725 |
| 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. |
44 | $129 | $533 |
| 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. |
40 | $129 | $464 |
| Radiofrequency vein destruction, first vein A procedure to treat the first incompetent vein in the arm or leg using radiofrequency energy and imaging guidance. |
37 | $865 | $6,467 |
| Ultrasound of hemodialysis access An ultrasound imaging test used to evaluate the blood flow and structure of a hemodialysis access site. |
34 | $98 | $910 |
| 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. |
30 | $192 | $1,278 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
26 | $64 | $177 |
| Ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. It allows for the visualization of these blood vessels and any surgical grafts. |
22 | $79 | $727 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
20 | $11 | $43 |
| 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. |
20 | $62 | $232 |
| Initial hospital admission, low complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving straightforward or low-level medical decision making, with at least 40 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
19 | $62 | $327 |
| Ultrasound of blood vessel, initial vessel An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review of the initial vessel. |
18 | $67 | $5,299 |
| Balloon angioplasty of leg artery, initial vessel A procedure to widen a narrowed or blocked artery in the leg using a balloon catheter. This is performed on the first vessel treated during the session. |
13 | $391 | $18,008 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, one side An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels on one side of the head and neck. |
12 | $100 | $662 |
| 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. |
12 | $182 | $1,367 |
| Pre-op ultrasound of artery and vein blood flow for hemodialysis access An ultrasound exam to assess blood flow in the arteries and veins on both sides of the body before surgery for hemodialysis access. |
11 | $200 | $1,116 |
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.
6.2% high complexity
61.7% medium
32.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$11,536
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,648/year across 7 years
Top 28% in TX for vascular surgery physician
9
Companies
41
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.
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$9,442 (81.9%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$1,394 (12.1%)
Scientific / Research
Research funding and grants
$700 (6.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,984
2023
$3,447
2022
$4,283
2021
$309
2020
$144
2019
$253
2018
$116
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$10,136
Medtronic, Inc.
$714
Boston Scientific Corporation
$286
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$208
Cook Medical LLC
$100
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$44
Surmodics, Inc.
$21
Cook Incorporated
$15
Bolton Medical Inc
$11
Top 3 companies account for 96.5% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
COOK MEDICAL AAA · COOK MEDICAL ZILVER PTX · ELUVIA · EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis · EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Endoprosthesis with Active Control · EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis · GORE EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis · GORE EXCLUDER Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis · GORE PROPATEN Vascular Graft · GORE TAG Conformable Thoracic Endoprosthesis · GORE TAG Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft · GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin · GORE VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endo · GORE-TEX Vascular Graft · Lutonix Drug Coated Balloon · Pounce Venous Thrombectomy System · Relay Plus · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · VENASEAL · VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endoprosthesis
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 →
The majority of payments (82%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers.
Equivalent to $996 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Vascular surgery physicians within 10 mi
56
Per 100K population
2.2
County median income
$74,149
Nearest hospital
UT OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS JR.
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. Kirkwood is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 19% in TX), with consulting-driven industry engagement, with 16 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. Kirkwood experienced with ultrasound of arm and leg arteries?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kirkwood performed 209 ultrasound of arm and leg arteries 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. Kirkwood receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kirkwood received a total of $11,536 from 9 companies across 41 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. Kirkwood's costs compare to other vascular surgery physicians in Dallas?
Dr. Kirkwood's average Medicare payment per service is $127. 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. Kirkwood) 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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