Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Tiffany Dugas, MD
Emergency Medicine · Houston, 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. Dugas 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. Dugas
Dr. Tiffany Dugas is an emergency medicine specialist in Houston, TX, with 10 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Dugas performed 1,759 Medicare services across 1,452 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Dugas received a total of $238 from 3 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 4 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in emergency 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. Dugas 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.
✓ 10 years in practice
▲ Top 2% volume in TX
$238 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,759
Medicare services
Top 2% in TX for emergency medicine
1,452
Unique beneficiaries
$31
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~176 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
138 | $0 | $2 |
| 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. |
94 | $88 | $269 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
74 | $16 | $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. |
72 | $116 | $412 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
71 | $8 | $9 |
| Amylase enzyme level test A blood test that measures the amount of amylase, an enzyme produced by the pancreas and salivary glands, to help evaluate pancreatic health. |
67 | $6 | $23 |
| 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. |
67 | $8 | $31 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
67 | $0 | $22 |
| 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. |
62 | $2 | $9 |
| 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. |
60 | $4 | $18 |
| Anti-nausea injection (ondansetron/Zofran) | 57 | $0 | $22 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
54 | $10 | $42 |
| Cardiac creatine kinase MB level test A blood test that measures the level of the MB fraction of creatine kinase, an enzyme found in heart muscle. This test helps assess potential heart muscle damage. |
49 | $11 | $46 |
| Myoglobin level test A blood test that measures the amount of myoglobin, a protein found in muscle tissue, in the body. |
49 | $13 | $45 |
| Troponin blood test A blood test that measures the amount of troponin protein in your body. Troponin is released into the blood when heart muscle is damaged. |
49 | $12 | $27 |
| 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. |
43 | $23 | $83 |
| 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. |
42 | $9 | $49 |
| SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. |
40 | $35 | $125 |
| Normal saline infusion, 500 ml Administration of sterile normal saline solution through an intravenous line. This procedure involves the infusion of a 500 ml unit of the solution. |
32 | $1 | $21 |
| ECG, 1-3 leads with physician review A simple electrocardiogram recording using one to three leads. A physician reviews the results. |
30 | $5 | $23 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
29 | $6 | $25 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
27 | $38 | $134 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
26 | $141 | $2,430 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
26 | $5 | $21 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
25 | $16 | $48 |
| Additional hour of intravenous hydration This code represents each additional hour of intravenous fluid administration beyond the initial hour. It is used to bill for extended hydration therapy. |
25 | $10 | $42 |
| Blood gas test A test that measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as the blood's acidity. |
23 | $26 | $77 |
| Multiplex respiratory virus test (COVID-19, flu, RSV) A laboratory test that uses a multiplex amplified probe technique to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus types A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). |
23 | $140 | $634 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
23 | $12 | $60 |
| 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. |
23 | $136 | $362 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
22 | $4 | $16 |
| 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. |
22 | $48 | $181 |
| Critical care, first 30-74 min Emergency medical care for a critically ill or injured patient lasting between 30 and 74 minutes. This service involves direct patient care and medical decision making to stabilize the patient. |
21 | $205 | $705 |
| Intravenous drug injection A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance directly into a vein. |
20 | $28 | $144 |
| Electrolyte blood test panel A blood test that measures the levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide to evaluate electrolyte balance. |
19 | $7 | $25 |
| Cardiac enzyme level (CK-MB) test A blood test that measures the total level of creatine kinase, specifically the cardiac enzyme fraction, to help evaluate heart muscle damage. |
19 | $6 | $26 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 18 | $166 | $521 |
| Additional 30 minutes of critical care This code represents an additional 30 minutes of critical care services provided beyond the initial critical care time period. |
18 | $79 | $400 |
| Intravenous hydration infusion, 31-60 minutes Administration of fluids into a vein to maintain hydration. This procedure involves an infusion lasting between 31 and 60 minutes. |
17 | $24 | $146 |
| Emergency department visit, high complexity An emergency department visit involving a high level of medical decision making. |
17 | $132 | $1,849 |
| Emergency department visit, moderate complexity An emergency department visit for an established or new patient involving a moderate level of medical decision making. |
16 | $50 | $1,589 |
| Urine culture, bacterial identification A laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria from a urine sample to detect infections. |
15 | $8 | $15 |
| Vaccine administration The process of giving a vaccine to a patient. This code covers the administration service only and does not include the cost of the vaccine itself. |
15 | $14 | $58 |
| Inhalation treatment for airway obstruction or sputum production A treatment involving the inhalation of medication to help clear airway obstructions or reduce sputum production. |
15 | $6 | $38 |
| DTaP vaccine (ages 7+) A vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) for individuals aged 7 years and older. |
13 | $26 | $210 |
| Unclassified drug A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories. |
13 | $2 | $20 |
| 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. |
12 | $67 | $179 |
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.
4.0% high complexity
21.2% medium
74.8% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2020 ↗$238
Total received (2019-2020)
Avg $119/year across 2 years
Top 32% in TX for emergency medicine
3
Companies
4
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
$238 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2020
$121
2019
$117
Payments by company (2020)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$121
BTG International, Inc.
$74
PFIZER INC.
$43
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ANDEXXA · CROFAB · ELIQUIS
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 $14 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Emergency medicines within 10 mi
877
Per 100K population
18.4
County median income
$73,104
Nearest hospital
BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL OF BELLAIRE
2.5 mi
2.5 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 2020 |
| 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. Dugas is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement.
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. Dugas experienced with dexamethasone injection (steroid)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Dugas performed 138 dexamethasone injection (steroid) 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. Dugas receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Dugas received a total of $238 from 3 companies across 4 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. Dugas's costs compare to other emergency medicines in Houston?
Dr. Dugas's average Medicare payment per service is $31. 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. Dugas) 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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