Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Qi-Ming Zhu, D.O.
Pulmonary Disease · Katy, 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. Zhu 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. Zhu?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Zhu
Dr. Qi-Ming Zhu is a pulmonary disease specialist in Katy, TX, with 16 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Zhu performed 1,988 Medicare services across 1,472 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Zhu received a total of $2,942 from 25 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 210 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pulmonary disease. 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. Zhu 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.
✓ 16 years in practice
▲ Top 19% volume in TX
$2,942 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,988
Medicare services
Top 19% in TX for pulmonary disease
1,472
Unique beneficiaries
$84
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~124 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. |
380 | $93 | $185 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
249 | $91 | $163 |
| 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. |
248 | $162 | $400 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
126 | $61 | $120 |
| Exercise-induced lung stress test A test performed to evaluate how the lungs function during physical exertion. It helps identify breathing difficulties or lung conditions that occur specifically when exercising. |
124 | $23 | $74 |
| 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. |
94 | $123 | $250 |
| Lung volume test using sensors A test that measures the amount of air in the lungs using sensors. |
93 | $44 | $84 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
93 | $135 | $275 |
| Pulmonary gas exchange test A test to examine how well the lungs exchange gases. |
81 | $45 | $89 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone. |
77 | $99 | $175 |
| 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. |
55 | $68 | $136 |
| 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. |
53 | $30 | $75 |
| 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. |
41 | $22 | $49 |
| Inhalation treatment for airway obstruction or sputum production A treatment involving the inhalation of medication to help clear airway obstructions or reduce sputum production. |
38 | $7 | $40 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
35 | $74 | $125 |
| Insertion of non-tunneled central venous catheter A procedure to place a central venous catheter for infusion in patients aged 5 years or older. The catheter is inserted directly into a large vein without being tunneled under the skin. |
28 | $64 | $300 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
28 | $31 | $35 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
27 | $11 | $50 |
| 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. |
26 | $72 | $90 |
| 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. |
23 | $15 | $30 |
| 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. |
17 | $11 | $30 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
16 | $5 | $10 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
14 | $84 | $175 |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) An intramuscular injection of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It is used to protect against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. |
11 | $283 | $325 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
11 | $31 | $35 |
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.
1.4% high complexity
9.3% medium
89.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$2,942
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $420/year across 7 years
Top 43% in TX for pulmonary disease
25
Companies
210
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
$2,942 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$738
2023
$1,311
2022
$522
2021
$60
2020
$35
2019
$176
2018
$101
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Abbott Laboratories
$1,162
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$341
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$265
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$233
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$230
Amgen Inc.
$176
AbbVie Inc.
$151
SANOFI PASTEUR INC.
$41
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$27
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$26
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$26
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$26
PFIZER INC.
$24
GENZYME CORPORATION
$24
Corcept Therapeutics
$22
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$21
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$19
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$19
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
Insmed, Inc.
$17
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$16
Lilly USA, LLC
$16
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Genentech USA, Inc.
$14
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$13
Top 3 companies account for 60.1% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADVAIR · ARALAST · AREXVY · Arikayce · BREO · BREZTRI · BROVANA · DUPIXENT · EDWARDS SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE (THV) · ELIQUIS · Esbriet · Exparel · FASENRA · FLUBLOK QUADRIVALENT NORTHERN HEMISPHERE · FREESTYLE LIBRE · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · FreeStyle Libre · GARDASIL · INSPIRE · Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation System · Korlym · LINZESS · LONHALA MAGNAIR · MOUNJARO · NUCALA · Otezla · QULIPTA · Repatha · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SPIRIVA RESPIMAT · SYMBICORT · TEZSPIRE · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · Utibron · VIBERZI · VOQUEZNA · Vascepa · XIFAXAN · Yupelri
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 $148 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Pulmonary diseases within 10 mi
114
Per 100K population
2.4
County median income
$73,104
Nearest hospital
OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL OF KATY
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. Zhu is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 19% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 16 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. Zhu experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Zhu performed 380 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. Zhu receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Zhu received a total of $2,942 from 25 companies across 210 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. Zhu's costs compare to other pulmonary diseases in Katy?
Dr. Zhu's average Medicare payment per service is $84. 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. Zhu) 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 →
Explore related providers
Specialty guide
Understanding Pulmonary Disease
Common procedures, typical costs, and what industry payments mean in pulmonary disease.
Same specialty & city
Pulmonary Diseases in Katy
Browse pulmonary diseases in Katy ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Pulmonary Diseases in TX
Pulmonary diseases ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Pulmonary Diseases in TX
Which TX pulmonary diseases receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Abbott Laboratories Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Abbott Laboratories.
By company
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
By company
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
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.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology