Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Sims, MD
Pain Medicine · Huntsville, 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. 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 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sims performed 15,616 Medicare services across 3,929 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sims received a total of $19,903 from 54 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 571 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pain 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. Sims 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 2% volume in TX
$19,903 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗15,616
Medicare services
Top 2% in TX for pain medicine
3,929
Unique beneficiaries
$36
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~822 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
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
54
Companies
571
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
$14,024 (70.5%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$5,880 (29.5%)
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)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
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 total 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? 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 (70%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 10% for pain medicine in TX.
Equivalent to $127 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Pain medicines within 10 mi
3
Per 100K population
3.8
County median income
$49,862
Nearest hospital
HUNTSVILLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
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. Sims is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 10% 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. Sims experienced with injection, propofol, 10 mg?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sims performed 5,167 injection, propofol, 10 mg 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. Sims receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sims received a total of $19,903 from 54 companies across 571 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. 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 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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