Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Sims, MD
Pain Medicine · Huntsville, TX
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Sims 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. Sims
Dr. Stephen Sims is a pain medicine specialist in Huntsville, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sims performed 15,616 Medicare services in 2023. These records do not provide a deduplicated patient total.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sims received a total of $19,903 from 54 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 571 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly reported through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their effect on care. A reliable breakdown by payment category is not available in this snapshot. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Sims is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 20 years of NPI registration
▲ Top 2% volume in TX
$19,903 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary — 2023
Medicare Utilization ↗15,616
Medicare services
Top 2% in TX for pain medicine
Not available
Unique patients (not deduplicated)
$36
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injection, propofol, 10 mg | 5,167 | $0 | $1 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
3,045 | $1 | $6 |
| Monthly chronic pain management bundle A monthly service for chronic pain management that includes diagnosis, assessment, monitoring, and the development or revision of a person-centered care plan. |
1,210 | $57 | $307 |
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
1,006 | $0 | $1 |
| Extended-release steroid injection (Zilretta) An injection of triamcinolone acetonide using a preservative-free, extended-release microsphere formulation. The dosage is measured in milligrams. |
768 | $12 | $75 |
| 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. |
751 | $90 | $253 |
| Drug screening test A laboratory test that uses a chemistry analyzer to detect the presence of drugs in a sample. |
519 | $60 | $249 |
| Definitive drug test using GC/MS or LC/MS A definitive drug test that identifies specific drugs and distinguishes between structural isomers using advanced methods like GC/MS or LC/MS. |
517 | $194 | $664 |
| 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. |
432 | $58 | $178 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 432 | $6 | $48 |
| Sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a sacral spine nerve root. The procedure uses imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
148 | $220 | $2,011 |
| 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. |
145 | $115 | $328 |
| Midazolam injection, per 1 mg Administration of midazolam hydrochloride, a sedative medication, measured in 1 mg increments. |
142 | $0 | $1 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
134 | $77 | $451 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the lower or sacral spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
110 | $195 | $2,361 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging guidance An injection into a lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance for the second level treated. |
108 | $101 | $940 |
| Injection of anesthetic or steroid into sacroiliac joint with imaging guidance This procedure involves injecting an anesthetic or steroid medication into the joint connecting the lower spine and hip bone. Imaging guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
82 | $133 | $1,142 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the upper or middle spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
71 | $207 | $2,291 |
| Additional sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into an additional sacral spine nerve root level, guided by imaging. |
66 | $85 | $896 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging An injection into a second spinal facet joint in the upper or middle spine, guided by imaging to ensure accurate placement. |
66 | $107 | $1,029 |
| Spinal drug pump reprogramming and refill Electronic adjustment of the settings for a spinal drug infusion pump and replenishment of the medication reservoir. |
65 | $64 | $698 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
65 | $38 | $214 |
| Trigger point injection, 3 or more muscles Injection of medication into three or more specific muscle trigger points to relieve pain. |
61 | $39 | $342 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
59 | $262 | $1,116 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint A procedure to destroy nerves in a single lower or sacral spinal facet joint using imaging guidance to target pain signals. |
58 | $476 | $2,690 |
| Compounded drug, not otherwise classified A medication prepared specifically for an individual patient by a pharmacist or physician, tailored to meet unique needs that cannot be fulfilled by commercially available products. |
50 | $72 | $97 |
| Electronic analysis of implanted neurostimulator with complex programming This procedure involves the electronic evaluation of an implanted neurostimulator generator. It includes complex programming of spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulators. |
40 | $41 | $423 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
39 | $43 | $331 |
| Spinal neurostimulator electrode insertion A procedure to place an electrode array into the spine through the skin. The electrode is used to deliver electrical stimulation to the nervous system. |
36 | $236 | $8,865 |
| Injection into lower spine canal with imaging guidance A procedure where a substance is injected into the lower part of the spinal canal. The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
35 | $192 | $1,450 |
| Spinal injection with imaging guidance A procedure where medication is injected into the middle or upper part of the spinal canal. Imaging technology is used to guide the needle to the correct location. |
34 | $189 | $1,661 |
| Injection, fentanyl citrate, 0.1 mg | 31 | $1 | $2 |
| Minimally invasive spine decompression, lower spine A minimally invasive procedure to remove bone from the lower spine to relieve pressure on nerve tissue, guided by imaging and accessed through the skin. |
27 | $683 | $6,000 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy the nerves supplying a single upper or middle spinal facet joint. It is performed to interrupt pain signals from that specific joint. |
26 | $468 | $2,546 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
25 | $87 | $455 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional upper or middle spinal facet joint. |
22 | $271 | $1,151 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
13 | $45 | $227 |
| 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. |
11 | $43 | $115 |
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. These counts do not measure clinical quality or years of experience.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$19,903
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,843/year across 7 years
Top 10% in TX for pain medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
54
Companies
571
Payment records
Payments are publicly reported; disclosure does not establish legality · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment categories are unavailable while the source breakdown is being rebuilt. Company and year totals do not identify how much belongs to each category.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$4,084
2023
$2,553
2022
$3,740
2021
$4,748
2020
$1,030
2019
$1,676
2018
$2,071
Payments by company (2024)
Abbott Laboratories
$3,064
Medtronic, Inc.
$263
ABBVIE INC.
$222
SI-BONE, INC.
$193
MML US, Inc.
$185
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$32
Fidia Pharma USA Inc.
$22
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Stryker Corporation
$20
Masimo Corporation
$17
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$15
Cook Medical LLC
$15
Bioventus LLC
$14
Top 3 companies account for 86.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Abbott Laboratories
$9,765
MML US, Inc.
$1,851
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$713
Nutech Spine, Inc.
$666
AbbVie Inc.
$620
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$543
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$453
Medtronic, Inc.
$453
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$399
ABBVIE INC.
$396
SI-BONE, INC.
$395
PFIZER INC.
$389
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$361
Boston Scientific Corporation
$326
US WorldMeds, LLC
$236
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$209
Vertiflex, Inc.
$204
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$194
Spinal Simplicity, LLC
$177
Amgen Inc.
$147
Merz North America, Inc.
$147
Pacira Therapeutics, Inc.
$129
BIOTRONIK INC.
$128
SurGenTec
$110
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$105
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$79
Allergan, Inc.
$52
Bioventus LLC
$52
Almatica Pharma LLC
$49
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$42
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$39
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
$37
Lundbeck LLC
$34
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$32
Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$31
Purdue Pharma L.P.
$26
Allergan Inc.
$24
Fidia Pharma USA Inc.
$22
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Kaleo, Inc.
$21
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$21
Stryker Corporation
$20
Shionogi Inc
$20
Nevro Corp.
$19
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$18
Masimo Corporation
$17
FIDIA PHARMA USA INC.
$17
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$15
Cook Medical LLC
$15
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$14
BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
$14
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$13
ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, Inc.
$12
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 61.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AIMOVIG · AJOVY · ASCENDA · Aimovig · Axium INS DRG IPG · Axium Sheath Braided DRG · BELBUCA · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · BUNAVAIL 2.1 mg 30-count box · Belbuca · COMIRNATY · DRG Accessories · DRG IPGs · DUROLANE · Durolane · ETERNA · Evoke SCS · Evzio · Exparel · GRALISE · HA MINUTEMAN G3-R · HORIZANT · HYALGAN · HYMOVIS · INTELLIS · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · Intracept · Iovera · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · LYRICA · Lamitrode SCS Leads · MILD DEVICE KIT · MONOVISC · MYOBLOC · NAPRELAN · NT1100 NT2000iX Simplicity · Neuromodulation Dspsbls and Accs · Nucynta · Nucynta ER · OCTRODE · Octrode SCS Leads · PENTA · PROCLAIM · Patient SafetyNet System · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Proclaim IPG · Prodigy Family of SCS IPGs · Prospera · QULIPTA · QUTENZA · QUVIVIQ · Qutenza · RELISTOR · RELISTOR ORAL · ReActiv8 · Rivacor 7 DR-T · SIFIX · SUPERION · SYMPROIC · SYNCHROMED · SYNCHROMEDII · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · Superion · Superion ISS · Superion Indirect Decompression System · Swift-Lock SCS · Symproic · TOVIAZ · UBRELVY · V-LOC 180 · VECTRIS · VYEPTI · XEOMIN · XTAMPZA · Xeomin · ZILVER PTX · ZTLido · Zilretta · Zipsor · mild Device Kit
Should you be concerned? Industry payments are disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their purpose, legality, or effect on care. 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 →
Geographic Context
Pain medicines in nearby ZIP areas
3
County median income
$49,862
Nearest hospital to ZIP centroid (approximate)
HUNTSVILLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | NPPES snapshot; verify current record |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | PECOS snapshot |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not included | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Sims is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in TX), with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Sims experienced with injection, propofol, 10 mg?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sims performed 5,167 injection, propofol, 10 mg services. These records cover Medicare fee-for-service activity, including eligible younger beneficiaries; they do not measure total practice volume or clinical quality.
Does Dr. Sims receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sims received a total of $19,903 from 54 companies across 571 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their legality or effect on care. 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. Sims's costs compare to other pain medicines in Huntsville?
Dr. Sims's average Medicare payment per service is $36. 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. Sims) 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 the presence of registry, enrollment, activity or payment records, not verified experience or clinical quality. 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?
Source publication dates and the snapshots loaded on this site can differ. Rebuilding a page does not refresh its source records. Check the Medicare reporting year and the payment interval shown above; consult the linked official sources for newer releases and current registry details. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
This page combines public CMS records with calculated summaries and explanatory procedure labels. These transformations are not verbatim federal records. Sources: 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. Data Coverage reflects 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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