Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Robert Salazar, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · Kingwood, TX
Practice pattern: Remote & Cardiac— Practice combining remote and cardiac services
Speaking/Promotional
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. Salazar 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. Salazar? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Salazar
Dr. Robert Salazar is a cardiovascular disease in Kingwood, TX, with 15 years in practice. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Salazar performed 7,119 Medicare services across 2,963 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Salazar received a total of $415,107 from 51 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 832 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Salazar is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 15 years in practice▲ Top 8% volume in TX$ $415,107 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗7,119
Medicare services
Top 8% in TX for cardiovascular disease
2,963
Unique beneficiaries
$133
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~475 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management using the results of remote vital sign monitoring per calendar month, each additional 20 minutes | 1,095 | $31 | $126 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month | 679 | $38 | $155 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test | 604 | $31 | $190 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month | 598 | $38 | $150 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days | 536 | $39 | $172 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month | 326 | $50 | $198 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead | 302 | $11 | $60 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) | 292 | $98 | $400 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) | 245 | $124 | $564 |
| Ultrasound study of arm or leg veins with compression and maneuvers | 188 | $129 | $650 |
| Interrogation device evaluation(s), (remote) up to 30 days; implantable cardiovascular physiologic monitor system, implantable loop recorder system, or subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor system, remote data acquisition(s), receipt of transmissions and tec | 178 | $28 | $855 |
| Evaluation of cardiac rhythm monitor system, remote up to 30 days | 158 | $20 | $82 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with electrocardiogram (ecg) with supervision and review by physician | 156 | $53 | $400 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic | 156 | $136 | $850 |
| Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | 150 | $655 | $838 |
| Ultrasound of both sides of head and neck blood flow | 146 | $123 | $800 |
| Nuclear medicine studies of blood flow in heart muscle at rest and with stress with concurrent ct scan | 145 | $1,933 | $5,742 |
| Nuclear medicine study of heart muscle blood flow by pet | 145 | $146 | $433 |
| EKG interpretation and report | 145 | $6 | $35 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or artery grafts | 138 | $171 | $820 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity | 136 | $95 | $315 |
| Electrocardiogram (ecg) up to 30 days continuous with transmission of patient triggered events with review and report by health care professional | 107 | $674 | $2,814 |
| Electrocardiogram (ecg) up to 30 days continuous with review and report by health care professional | 106 | $20 | $80 |
| Chemical destruction of first incompetent vein of arm or leg using imaging guidance | 80 | $1,380 | $5,668 |
| Remote monitoring of physiologic parameters, initial set-up and patient education on use of equipment | 73 | $14 | $59 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 55 | $142 | $690 |
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days | 42 | $17 | $74 |
| Telephone medical discussion with physician, 5-10 minutes | 36 | $39 | $175 |
| Injection of chemical agent into single incompetent vein of leg using ultrasound guidance | 24 | $1,090 | $4,524 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity | 20 | $137 | $610 |
| Use of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by physician performing a procedure (5 years or older), initial 15 minutes | 15 | $9 | $161 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) | 15 | $55 | $284 |
| Ultrasound study of arm and leg arteries | 14 | $61 | $262 |
| Ultrasound study of one arm or leg veins with compression and maneuvers | 14 | $94 | $600 |
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.
2.8% high complexity
23.2% medium
74.0% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$415,107
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $59,301/year across 7 years
Top 1% in TX for cardiovascular disease
51
Companies
832
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$385,509 (92.9%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$29,598 (7.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024$77,310
2023$74,706
2022$142,468
2021$62,411
2020$27,974
2019$24,321
2018$5,916
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABIOMED
$228,722
Penumbra, Inc.
$125,589
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$39,818
Abbott Laboratories
$4,505
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$2,480
Medtronic, Inc.
$1,984
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,944
Impulse Dynamics (USA) Inc.
$1,335
BIOTRONIK INC.
$1,269
Inari Medical, Inc.
$1,056
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$953
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$688
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$563
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$547
ZOLL Circulation Inc
$515
Amgen Inc.
$279
Novo Nordisk Inc
$270
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$240
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$196
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$167
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$149
EKOS Corporation
$148
Itamar Medical Inc
$148
Recor Medical Inc
$148
Veryan Medical Incorporated
$144
Teleflex LLC
$134
ASAHI INTECC USA, INC.
$119
Kestra Medical Technology Services, Inc.
$102
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$87
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$80
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$72
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$72
PFIZER INC.
$63
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$55
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$54
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$53
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$45
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$41
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$35
Cook Medical LLC
$35
Coala Life Inc
$33
United Therapeutics Corporation
$29
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$26
Bolton Medical Inc
$24
Biocompatibles, Inc.
$20
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$17
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Avinger Inc.
$14
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$11
Contego Medical, Inc
$9
CashFlow Solutions, LLC
$6
Top 3 companies account for 94.9% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AMPLATZER Occluders · ASAHI PTCA Guide Wire · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · AVEIR · AVVIGO Guidance System · Accent Pacemaker · Assure WCD · Assurity Pacemaker · Astron; Pulsar; AstronPulsar · BRILINTA · BioMimics 3D Vascular Stent System · BodyGuardian · CAMZYOS · CARDIOMEMS · CHANTIX · CONFIRM RX · COOK CELECT · CROSSBOSS · CT THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM KIT · CardioMEMS HF System · Coala Heart Monitor · Confirm Rx · EKOSONIC · ELIQUIS · ELUVIA · ENTRESTO · Edarbi · Edora · Evera · FARXIGA · FLEXITOUCH · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · Flexitouch Plus · FlowTriever · GALLANT · GENERAL THROMBECTOMY · GENERAL ATHERECTOMY · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL ULTRASOUND · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GENERAL - ATHERECTOMY · GENERAL - VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · General - Angioplasty · HAWKONE · IGT D Peripheral · IGT_D Peripheral · INJECTAFER · INSPIRE · Impella · Indigo · Indigo System · Inpefa · JARDIANCE · JETSTREAM · KENGREAL · LEQVIO · LUTONIX · LYMPHA PRESS OPTIMAL PLUS(US) BT · LifeVest · MICRA · MITRACLIP · Merlin Connectivity and Remote · MitraClip System · NEXLETOL · OFEV · ONYX FRONTIER · OPTIMIZER · Optimizer · Orsiro Mission · Ozempic · PANTHERIS · PARADISE RENAL DENERVATION SYSTEM · Penumbra System · QUADRA ASSURA · QUARTET · Quadra Assura CRT Defibrillator · Quartet CRT Lead · RESOLUTE ONYX · REVEAL LINQ · RUBY Coil · Repatha · Resolute · Reveal LINQ · Rotarex · Rybelsus · S · SYNERGY · Sunosi · THORATEC HEARTMATE 3 LVAS IMPLANT KIT · TORCON NB · TREO ABDOMINAL STENT-GRAFT SYSTEM · TURNPIKE · TYVASO · Temperature Management System · TherOx DS2 Console · Trilogy 100 · ULTRASCORE · VARITHENA · VENOVO · VERQUVO · Varithena Administration Pack · Vascular Lithotripsy · VenaSeal · Visia AF · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · WatchPATONE · XARELTO · ZIO Patch · Zero Gravity
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 →
The majority of payments (93%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in cardiovascular disease and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 1% for cardiovascular disease in TX.
Equivalent to $5,831 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Cardiovascular Diseases within 10 mi
154
Per 100K population
3.2
County median income
$73,104
Nearest hospital
KINGWOOD PINES 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. Salazar is a remote & cardiac specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 8% in TX), and high industry engagement (speaking/promotional, top 1%), with 15 years of practice experience.
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. Salazar experienced with management using the results of remote vital sign monitoring per calendar month, each additional 20 minutes?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Salazar performed 1,095 management using the results of remote vital sign monitoring per calendar month, each additional 20 minutes 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. Salazar receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Salazar received a total of $415,107 from 51 companies across 832 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. Salazar's costs compare to other cardiovascular diseases in Kingwood?
Dr. Salazar's average Medicare payment per service is $133. 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. Salazar) 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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