Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Ronald Bruce, D.O.
Internal Medicine · Rockport, 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. Bruce 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. Bruce
Dr. Ronald Bruce is an internal medicine specialist in Rockport, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Bruce performed 10,875 Medicare services across 4,271 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Bruce received a total of $991 from 15 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 40 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in internal 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. Bruce 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 3% volume in TX
$991 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗10,875
Medicare services
Top 3% in TX for internal medicine
4,271
Unique beneficiaries
$55
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~572 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. |
2,701 | $86 | $127 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
2,480 | $46 | $62 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
1,982 | $35 | $47 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
535 | $124 | $128 |
| 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. |
497 | $60 | $89 |
| Annual depression screening | 384 | $18 | $18 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 257 | $18 | $18 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
199 | $29 | $35 |
| Influenza vaccine, quadrivalent, 0.5 ml dosage | 191 | $20 | $30 |
| Urinalysis, manual A manual laboratory examination of a urine sample to check for various substances and cells. |
166 | $3 | $17 |
| 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. |
133 | $9 | $14 |
| COVID-19 immunoassay detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay method to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) through direct visual observation. |
131 | $40 | $50 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
130 | $58 | $82 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
128 | $0 | $2 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
116 | $16 | $17 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
103 | $10 | $14 |
| Home visit, established patient, low complexity A physician visits an existing patient at their residence to provide care involving a low level of medical decision making. The visit lasts at least 30 minutes. |
88 | $54 | $82 |
| Chronic care management services Comprehensive assessment and care planning for patients requiring ongoing chronic care management. |
58 | $43 | $60 |
| Home visit, established patient, straightforward decision making A home visit for an established patient involving straightforward medical decision making. The visit lasts at least 15 minutes when time is used to determine the level of service. |
51 | $34 | $53 |
| Complex chronic care management, first 60 minutes This service involves clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional to manage two or more chronic conditions over a calendar month. It covers the first 60 minutes of this coordinated care effort. |
48 | $94 | $130 |
| Ceftriaxone antibiotic injection This code represents the administration of ceftriaxone sodium, an antibiotic medication. The charge is calculated for every 250 mg of the drug administered. |
45 | $0 | $12 |
| 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. |
42 | $50 | $109 |
| Annual wellness visit, initial visit A yearly appointment to review your health and create a personalized prevention plan. This initial visit focuses on preventive care and health assessment. |
40 | $158 | $164 |
| Nursing facility visit, moderate complexity A follow-up visit by a healthcare provider at a nursing facility for an established patient. The visit involves moderate medical decision making and takes at least 30 minutes. |
39 | $66 | $88 |
| Autonomic nervous system function test This test evaluates how well the sympathetic nervous system is functioning. It assesses the automatic control of bodily processes such as heart rate and blood pressure. |
36 | $94 | $125 |
| 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. |
34 | $117 | $163 |
| Transitional care management services, moderate complexity Services provided to coordinate care during the transition from an inpatient or other facility setting back to the community. This includes follow-up and management of a health problem of at least moderate complexity. |
34 | $153 | $202 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
34 | $3 | $8 |
| Ear wax removal by washing This procedure involves the removal of impacted ear wax using a washing technique. |
28 | $12 | $21 |
| Initial preventive physical examination, new Medicare beneficiary A comprehensive preventive health visit for new Medicare beneficiaries during their first 12 months of enrollment. The service is conducted as a face-to-face visit and is limited to preventive care. |
28 | $158 | $164 |
| Diabetic neuropathy follow-up visit A follow-up evaluation for a diabetic patient with sensory neuropathy and loss of protective sensation. The visit includes a patient history and a physical examination. |
24 | $28 | $38 |
| Initial nursing facility care, moderate complexity Initial care provided to a patient in a nursing facility with moderate medical decision making, taking at least 35 minutes. |
20 | $93 | $124 |
| Nursing facility visit, low complexity A daily follow-up visit for an existing patient in a nursing facility involving straightforward medical decision making. The visit requires at least 15 minutes of time if time is used to determine the level of care. |
20 | $49 | $66 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
18 | $43 | $66 |
| Routine 12-lead ECG screening A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram performed as part of an initial preventive physical examination. The service includes both the performance of the test and the physician's interpretation and report. |
17 | $9 | $14 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
13 | $75 | $101 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
13 | $5 | $7 |
| 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. |
12 | $14 | $15 |
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 ↗$991
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $142/year across 7 years
Top 41% in TX for internal medicine
15
Companies
40
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
$977 (98.6%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$14 (1.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$165
2023
$140
2022
$54
2021
$85
2020
$59
2019
$271
2018
$217
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$194
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$180
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$122
MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
$109
Lilly USA, LLC
$108
Exact Sciences Corporation
$86
PFIZER INC.
$62
Novo Nordisk Inc
$23
Dexcom, Inc.
$20
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$16
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$15
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$15
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$15
Amgen Inc.
$14
Abbott Laboratories
$13
Top 3 companies account for 50.0% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AREXVY · BASAGLAR · CHANTIX · Cologuard Collection Kit · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · ELIQUIS · FARXIGA · INVOKANA · JARDIANCE · MOUNJARO · NEXLETOL · OFEV · Ozempic · Proclaim IPG · SOLIQUA 100/33 · TRULICITY · XARELTO · Xeomin
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 (99%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $9 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Internal medicine physicians within 10 mi
7
Per 100K population
28.6
County median income
$61,754
Nearest hospital
REFUGIO COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
16.1 mi
16.1 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. Bruce is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Bruce experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Bruce performed 2,701 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. Bruce receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Bruce received a total of $991 from 15 companies across 40 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. Bruce's costs compare to other internal medicine physicians in Rockport?
Dr. Bruce's average Medicare payment per service is $55. 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. Bruce) 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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