Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christopher Easterling, MD
Family Medicine · Graham, 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. Easterling 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. Easterling
Dr. Christopher Easterling is a family medicine specialist in Graham, TX, with 11 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Easterling performed 21,736 Medicare services across 7,673 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Easterling received a total of $3,766 from 36 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 235 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. Easterling 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.
✓ 11 years in practice
▲ Top 0% volume in TX
$3,766 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗21,736
Medicare services
Top 0% in TX for family medicine
7,673
Unique beneficiaries
$29
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~1,976 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 5,340 | $18 | $30 |
| Allergy immunotherapy preparation A professional service involving the preparation and administration of one or more antigens. |
3,600 | $11 | $125 |
| 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. |
1,383 | $86 | $250 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
809 | $47 | $122 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
740 | $8 | $20 |
| 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. |
582 | $8 | $40 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
513 | $8 | $60 |
| 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. |
474 | $57 | $170 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
470 | $13 | $102 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 451 | $8 | $85 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
438 | $37 | $149 |
| Advance care planning consultation, first 30 min A session focused on discussing and documenting future healthcare preferences and goals. This service covers the initial 30 minutes of the planning discussion. |
410 | $77 | $253 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 396 | $18 | $53 |
| Infectious disease DNA/RNA test A laboratory test that uses a specific technique to detect the genetic material of an organism. This method amplifies the target DNA or RNA to identify the presence of the organism. |
372 | $34 | $100 |
| Annual depression screening | 369 | $18 | $75 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
365 | $124 | $275 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
332 | $9 | $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. |
325 | $9 | $55 |
| Allergy injection therapy, multiple injections A professional service involving the administration of multiple allergen injections. |
245 | $8 | $45 |
| 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. |
226 | $0 | $5 |
| 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. |
222 | $36 | $335 |
| Home health agency supervision, complex multidisciplinary care Supervision by a physician or allowed practitioner for a patient receiving Medicare-covered services from a participating home health agency. This involves complex and multidisciplinary care modalities, with the patient not present during the supervision. |
216 | $79 | $125 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
195 | $37 | $177 |
| Chlamydia pneumoniae nucleic acid test A laboratory test that uses amplified probe techniques to detect the genetic material of Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria in a sample. |
186 | $34 | $100 |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid test A laboratory test that uses amplified probe techniques to detect the genetic material of Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria. |
186 | $34 | $100 |
| Respiratory virus nucleic acid test, 3-5 targets A laboratory test that uses nucleic acid detection to identify multiple types or subtypes of respiratory viruses. The test analyzes 3 to 5 specific viral targets. |
186 | $139 | $1,100 |
| COVID-19 viral test, non-CDC A laboratory test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) using any technique and targeting multiple types or subtypes. This specific code is for tests performed by laboratories that are not the CDC. |
186 | $50 | $100 |
| Penicillin G benzathine injection, 100,000 units An injection of penicillin G benzathine antibiotic containing 100,000 units. |
180 | $13 | $25 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
161 | $3 | $35 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
153 | $10 | $75 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
151 | $4 | $25 |
| Remote vital sign monitoring management, each additional 20 minutes This code covers the time spent by a provider managing patient data from remote vital sign monitoring devices. It applies to each additional 20-minute increment beyond the initial monthly service period. |
146 | $30 | $122 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
137 | $16 | $45 |
| 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. |
114 | $23 | $95 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
103 | $35 | $94 |
| 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. |
70 | $124 | $335 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
70 | $0 | $25 |
| 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. |
69 | $49 | $246 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
68 | $4 | $35 |
| 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. |
66 | $207 | $520 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
65 | $10 | $70 |
| Urine microalbumin test A laboratory test that measures the amount of a specific protein called microalbumin in a urine sample. This analysis helps assess kidney function. |
65 | $6 | $45 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
65 | $5 | $60 |
| 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. |
64 | $4 | $40 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
63 | $53 | $800 |
| 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. |
63 | $78 | $351 |
| Expiratory airflow and volume test A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed at which you can breathe it out. It evaluates lung function by assessing expiratory airflow and volume. |
61 | $20 | $103 |
| Drug test with direct observation A drug screening test performed under direct observation to ensure the sample is provided correctly. This method is used to verify the integrity of the specimen collection process. |
53 | $12 | $100 |
| Smoking cessation counseling, 4-10 minutes A brief counseling session focused on helping patients quit smoking and tobacco use. The provider spends 4 to 10 minutes discussing strategies and support for cessation. |
52 | $14 | $45 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
46 | $1 | $10 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
45 | $42 | $192 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
42 | $38 | $200 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
35 | $33 | $140 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the abdomen using two different angles to visualize internal structures. |
32 | $23 | $104 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
27 | $46 | $180 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
26 | $146 | $608 |
| 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. |
26 | $31 | $100 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
24 | $22 | $96 |
| Knee X-ray, 4 or more views An imaging test using X-rays to create multiple pictures of the knee joint from different angles. |
22 | $36 | $127 |
| 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. |
20 | $94 | $373 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
18 | $22 | $95 |
| Urinalysis, manual A manual laboratory examination of a urine sample to check for various substances and cells. |
17 | $3 | $20 |
| Initial preventive physical examination, new Medicare beneficiary A comprehensive preventive health visit for new Medicare beneficiaries during their first 12 months of enrollment. The service is conducted as a face-to-face visit and is limited to preventive care. |
17 | $158 | $489 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
16 | $36 | $131 |
| Routine 12-lead ECG screening A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram performed as part of an initial preventive physical examination. The service includes both the performance of the test and the physician's interpretation and report. |
16 | $9 | $50 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
13 | $332 | $1,382 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
13 | $47 | $350 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
13 | $125 | $535 |
| Annual wellness visit, initial visit A yearly appointment to review your health and create a personalized prevention plan. This initial visit focuses on preventive care and health assessment. |
12 | $158 | $400 |
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.
0.4% high complexity
31.3% medium
68.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$3,766
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $538/year across 7 years
Top 17% in TX for family medicine
36
Companies
235
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
$3,766 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,108
2023
$844
2022
$534
2021
$124
2020
$232
2019
$636
2018
$289
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$470
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$384
Lilly USA, LLC
$355
Novo Nordisk Inc
$352
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$303
Amgen Inc.
$262
PFIZER INC.
$252
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$227
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$159
ABBVIE INC.
$116
AbbVie Inc.
$94
Exact Sciences Corporation
$85
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$59
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$56
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$51
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$51
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$47
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$47
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$46
Allergan, Inc.
$35
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$31
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$29
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$28
Allergan Inc.
$24
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
Genentech USA, Inc.
$21
Corium, LLC
$20
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$18
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$17
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$17
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$17
Celgene Corporation
$15
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$15
Abbott Laboratories
$14
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$11
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 32.1% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AIRSUPRA · ANORO · ANORO ELLIPTA · AREXVY · AZSTARYS · Aimovig · BELSOMRA · BEVESPI AEROSPHERE · BREZTRI · COMIRNATY · Cologuard Collection Kit · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · EVUSHELD · FARXIGA · FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT · FREESTYLE LIBRE · GEMTESA · INVOKANA · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LINZESS · MOUNJARO · Myrbetriq · NUEDEXTA · NURTEC ODT · NUZYRA · Otezla · Ozempic · PREMARIN · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · Prolia · QULIPTA · QUVIVIQ · RECORLEV · REXULTI · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · TOUJEO · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · TRUMENBA · Tresiba · UBRELVY · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · Veozah · Vesicare · Victoza · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Xofluza · YUPELRI · Yupelri · Zilretta
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 $17 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
17
Per 100K population
94.6
County median income
$63,723
Nearest hospital
GRAHAM REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
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. Easterling is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 0% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 17% of TX peers.
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. Easterling experienced with denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Easterling performed 5,340 denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva) 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. Easterling receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Easterling received a total of $3,766 from 36 companies across 235 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. Easterling's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Graham?
Dr. Easterling's average Medicare payment per service is $29. 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. Easterling) 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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