Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Joseph Scales, MD
Urology Physician · Plano, 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. Scales 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. Scales
Dr. Joseph Scales is an urology physician in Plano, TX, with 12 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Scales performed 3,890 Medicare services across 2,655 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Scales received a total of $8,844 from 58 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 402 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in urology physician. 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. Scales 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.
✓ 12 years in practice
▲ Top 31% volume in TX
$8,844 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,890
Medicare services
Top 31% in TX for urology physician
2,655
Unique beneficiaries
$47
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~324 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
759 | $2 | $5 |
| 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. |
512 | $63 | $183 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
417 | $8 | $22 |
| 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. |
359 | $94 | $259 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
314 | $8 | $17 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 219 | $18 | $37 |
| 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. |
176 | $111 | $336 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 163 | $131 | $377 |
| 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. |
94 | $11 | $29 |
| Urine culture, bacterial colony count A laboratory test that measures the number of bacteria growing in a urine sample to help identify infections. |
85 | $8 | $16 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
75 | $3 | $6 |
| Urine culture, bacterial identification A laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria from a urine sample to detect infections. |
71 | $8 | $16 |
| Cystourethroscopy A diagnostic exam of the bladder and urethra using an endoscope to visually inspect the urinary tract. |
70 | $181 | $495 |
| 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. |
67 | $131 | $362 |
| Subcutaneous or intramuscular chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering anti-cancer hormonal medication through an injection into the tissue under the skin or into a muscle. |
51 | $23 | $70 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
43 | $96 | $282 |
| Prostate gland biopsy A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination. |
40 | $177 | $491 |
| Bacterial culture, aerobic A laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria capable of surviving in oxygen. The results help determine the presence of specific aerobic microorganisms. |
38 | $8 | $16 |
| Antibiotic sensitivity test A laboratory test that determines which antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals are effective against a specific microorganism using microdilution or agar dilution methods. |
35 | $8 | $17 |
| Initial hospital admission, low complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving straightforward or low-level medical decision making, with at least 40 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
35 | $65 | $166 |
| Non-needle muscle activity measurement of bladder and bowel openings This procedure measures and records the electrical activity of muscles at the bladder and bowel openings without using needles. |
34 | $10 | $57 |
| Total testosterone level test A blood test that measures the total amount of testosterone in your body. This hormone is important for various bodily functions in both men and women. |
32 | $25 | $52 |
| Simple insertion of temporary bladder tube A procedure to place a temporary tube into the bladder. This allows for the drainage of urine from the bladder. |
28 | $46 | $126 |
| Imaging of urinary tract with contrast An imaging test of the urinary tract performed after a contrast agent is injected to enhance visibility of the structures. |
25 | $19 | $49 |
| Complex urodynamic pressure flow study A test that measures the pressure of urine flow in the bladder during voiding to evaluate how well the bladder and urethra are functioning. |
23 | $187 | $515 |
| Abdominal device insertion with pressure and urine flow study A procedure involving the placement of a device into the abdomen, accompanied by a study to measure pressure and urine flow rate. |
23 | $111 | $297 |
| 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. |
22 | $62 | $159 |
| Bladder irrigation and/or instillation This procedure involves flushing the bladder with fluid to clear it or introducing medication directly into the bladder. |
21 | $59 | $156 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
19 | $8 | $17 |
| Ureteral stone crushing with stent insertion An endoscope is used to break up a stone in the ureter, followed by the placement of a stent to keep the ureter open. |
16 | $299 | $815 |
| Waterjet prostate destruction via urethra A procedure that uses a high-pressure water jet to destroy prostate tissue, accessed through the urethra. |
13 | $538 | $1,725 |
| Complex urodynamic pressure measurement A test that measures the pressure of urine flow within the bladder to evaluate how well the bladder and urethra are functioning. |
11 | $154 | $451 |
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.
0.4% high complexity
17.2% medium
82.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$8,844
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,263/year across 7 years
Top 22% in TX for urology physician
58
Companies
402
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
$8,831 (99.8%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$14 (0.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,481
2023
$1,883
2022
$1,591
2021
$788
2020
$363
2019
$825
2018
$913
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$1,457
Edap Technomed Inc
$807
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$573
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$548
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$395
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$352
ABBVIE INC.
$347
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$337
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$307
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$266
AbbVie Inc.
$239
PFIZER INC.
$228
Axonics, Inc.
$200
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$195
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$171
Boston Scientific Corporation
$156
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$151
NxThera, Inc.
$151
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$142
UROVANT SCIENCES INC
$140
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$127
Tempus AI, Inc
$120
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$118
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$85
Coloplast Corp
$75
Agiliti Surgical, Inc.
$69
Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$63
Tolmar, Inc.
$62
UROGEN PHARMA, INC.
$62
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$60
Eisai Inc.
$59
Allergan Inc.
$55
Ambu Inc.
$55
TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$54
Endo USA, Inc.
$45
UroGen Pharma, Inc.
$44
Cook Medical LLC
$41
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$39
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$39
Olympus America Inc.
$37
Retrophin, Inc.
$36
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$32
Ethicon US, LLC
$29
ConvaTec Inc.
$27
CIVCO Medical Instruments
$27
Integra LifeSciences Corporation
$22
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$22
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Augmenix, Inc.
$20
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$20
Amgen Inc.
$19
Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$17
Medtronic, Inc.
$16
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$16
Allergan, Inc.
$15
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$14
Teleflex LLC
$12
MEDIVATION FIELD SOLUTIONS LLC
$11
Top 3 companies account for 32.1% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(815) Thiola · ADSTILADRIN · AKEEGA · AMS · AQUABEAM ROBOTIC SYSTEM · AQUABEAM SYSTEM · AVEED · Axonics · Axumin · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · Bulkamid · CODMAN CERTAS · ELIGARD · ERLEADA · Erleada · GEMTESA · GENERAL KIDNEY STONE DISEASE · GENERAL - BPH · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENTLECATH GLIDE · GREENLIGHT · General - Erectile Dysfunction · INTRAROSA · JELMYTO · KEYTRUDA · LUPRON DEPOT · LYNPARZA · Lenvima · LithoVue · MYRBETRIQ · Myrbetriq · NOCDURNA · Noctiva · Nubeqa · ORGOVYX · OTREXUP · Olympus Cysto-Resection · PLUVICTO · POSLUMA · PROVENGE · PYLARIFY · Porges Coloplast · Prolia · RESONANCE · REZUM · Rezum · Rezum Generator · SIGNIA · ShockPulse - SE · SpaceOAR · TITAN · TLANDO · Thiola · Titan · Trelstar · Trodelvy · UPHOLD LITE · UROLIFT · VISTASEAL · XIAFLEX · XTANDI · XYOSTED · Xofigo · Xtandi · YONSA
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 $227 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Urology physicians within 10 mi
132
Per 100K population
11.8
County median income
$117,588
Nearest hospital
TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL PLANO
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. Scales is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, 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. Scales experienced with automated urinalysis?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Scales performed 759 automated urinalysis 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. Scales receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Scales received a total of $8,844 from 58 companies across 402 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. Scales's costs compare to other urology physicians in Plano?
Dr. Scales's average Medicare payment per service is $47. 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. Scales) 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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