Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Karen Stewart, M.D.
Internal Medicine · Helotes, 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. Stewart 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. Stewart?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Stewart
Dr. Karen Stewart is an internal medicine specialist in Helotes, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Stewart performed 1,246 Medicare services across 1,020 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Stewart received a total of $3,958 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 193 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in internal 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. Stewart 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 29% volume in TX
$3,958 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,246
Medicare services
Top 29% in TX for internal medicine
1,020
Unique beneficiaries
$42
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~66 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
243 | $88 | $287 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
83 | $10 | $31 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
75 | $124 | $291 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
66 | $8 | $15 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
61 | $13 | $44 |
| Blood glucose test using hand-held instrument A test that measures the level of sugar in the blood using a portable device. The result helps monitor blood glucose levels. |
59 | $3 | $8 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
56 | $10 | $27 |
| 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. |
53 | $8 | $24 |
| 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. |
50 | $96 | $309 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
41 | $29 | $64 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
39 | $70 | $119 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
38 | $31 | $50 |
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
37 | $2 | $6 |
| Urine microalbumin test (kidney screening) A laboratory test that measures the amount of microalbumin, a small protein, in a urine sample. This test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage. |
37 | $6 | $15 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
36 | $5 | $14 |
| Assessment of emotional or behavioral problems An evaluation to identify and understand emotional or behavioral issues. This process involves reviewing symptoms and behaviors to determine the nature of the concerns. |
35 | $3 | $15 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
31 | $16 | $54 |
| 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. |
26 | $10 | $33 |
| 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. |
25 | $36 | $93 |
| X-ray of entire middle and lower spine, 1 view A single X-ray image captures the entire middle and lower sections of the spine. This imaging technique uses electromagnetic radiation to create pictures of the bones in the back. |
19 | $27 | $100 |
| 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. |
19 | $62 | $202 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
17 | $4 | $16 |
| Pneumococcal vaccine, 23-valent A vaccine that protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is used to prevent infections caused by these bacteria. |
17 | $131 | $221 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
17 | $31 | $48 |
| 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. |
15 | $92 | $371 |
| Spirometry test before and after medication A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed of your breathing before and after taking a medication. |
13 | $25 | $111 |
| Annual depression screening | 13 | $18 | $49 |
| Albuterol inhalation solution, 1 mg A unit dose of FDA-approved albuterol solution administered via durable medical equipment for inhalation. |
13 | $0 | $11 |
| 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. |
12 | $11 | $34 |
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.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$3,958
Total received (2019-2024)
Avg $792/year across 5 years
Top 20% in TX for internal medicine
27
Companies
193
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
$3,958 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,385
2023
$1,104
2022
$851
2021
$598
2019
$18
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novo Nordisk Inc
$707
Amgen Inc.
$635
ABBVIE INC.
$592
AbbVie Inc.
$396
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$280
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$209
Lilly USA, LLC
$204
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$171
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$123
Exact Sciences Corporation
$108
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$92
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$47
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$44
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$40
Abbott Laboratories
$39
PFIZER INC.
$36
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$34
Tolmar, Inc.
$28
Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$26
Philips North America LLC
$21
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$21
Dexcom, Inc.
$21
Eisai Inc.
$20
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$19
Array BioPharma Inc.
$18
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$15
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 48.9% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(CK7) Extended Holter · AREXVY · BREZTRI · Braftovi · CREON · Cologuard Collection Kit · Dayvigo · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · FARXIGA · FASENRA · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · JARDIANCE · JATENZO · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LINZESS · MOUNJARO · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · NOCDURNA · NURTEC ODT · Natesto · Otezla · Ozempic · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · Prolia · QULIPTA · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA 100/33 · TOUJEO · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRULICITY · UBRELVY · VRAYLAR · VYVANSE · Vascepa · XIFAXAN
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 $318 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Internal medicine physicians within 10 mi
1,082
Per 100K population
53.1
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital
LEGENT ORTHOPEDIC + SPINE
9.3 mi
9.3 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. Stewart is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 29% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 20% of TX peers, 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. Stewart experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Stewart performed 243 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Stewart receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Stewart received a total of $3,958 from 27 companies across 193 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. Stewart's costs compare to other internal medicine physicians in Helotes?
Dr. Stewart's average Medicare payment per service is $42. 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. Stewart) 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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