Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Carmelo Otero, M.D.
Surgery · San Antonio, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Mixed 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. Otero 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. Otero
Dr. Carmelo Otero is a surgery specialist in San Antonio, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Otero performed 2,205 Medicare services across 899 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Otero received a total of $35,017 from 52 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 168 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in surgery. Payments are distributed across multiple categories and often reflect legitimate professional engagement with the medical industry. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Otero 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 4% volume in TX
$35,017 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,205
Medicare services
Top 4% in TX for surgery
899
Unique beneficiaries
$64
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~116 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
1,033 | $0 | $3 |
| 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. |
256 | $95 | $364 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, low complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an established patient with straightforward or low-level medical decision making. The visit requires at least 25 minutes of time spent on the day of service. |
97 | $38 | $142 |
| Ultrasound of hemodialysis access An ultrasound imaging test used to evaluate the blood flow and structure of a hemodialysis access site. |
91 | $93 | $449 |
| 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. |
88 | $53 | $249 |
| 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. |
77 | $131 | $496 |
| 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. |
66 | $119 | $474 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries A non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to examine the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It evaluates blood flow and checks for blockages or other vascular issues. |
57 | $89 | $386 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
53 | $135 | $585 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
40 | $138 | $574 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
38 | $180 | $745 |
| Pre-operative ultrasound for hemodialysis access A complete ultrasound assessment of artery and vein blood flow performed before surgery to evaluate hemodialysis access. |
32 | $88 | $452 |
| Hemodialysis circuit intervention with balloon dilation A procedure to insert a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit and dilate the dialysis segment using a balloon, with radiological review. |
31 | $180 | $669 |
| Needle or tube insertion into hemodialysis circuit with radiologist review A procedure involving the insertion of a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit, accompanied by a review of the procedure by a radiologist. |
30 | $116 | $467 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
25 | $14 | $305 |
| 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. |
21 | $38 | $151 |
| Midazolam injection, per 1 mg Administration of midazolam hydrochloride, a sedative medication, measured in 1 mg increments. |
20 | $0 | $3 |
| Injection, fentanyl citrate, 0.1 mg | 20 | $1 | $7 |
| Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter for infusion, age 5+ A surgical procedure to place a long-term catheter into a large vein for delivering medications or fluids. The catheter is tunneled under the skin to reduce infection risk and provide stable access for patients aged 5 and older. |
18 | $171 | $859 |
| Revision of hemodialysis graft A procedure to repair or restore the function of a surgically created blood vessel connection used for hemodialysis. |
18 | $563 | $2,149 |
| Removal of tunneled central venous tube This procedure involves the removal of a catheter that has been surgically placed under the skin and threaded into a large vein. |
16 | $103 | $408 |
| Radiologist review of abdominal aorta image A radiologist reviews images of the abdominal aorta to evaluate the blood vessel. |
15 | $90 | $392 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery images A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in one or both arms or legs to assess blood flow and vessel health. |
14 | $124 | $499 |
| Relocation of upper arm vein to artery for hemodialysis A surgical procedure to move a vein from the upper arm and connect it to an artery to create access for hemodialysis. |
13 | $514 | $2,072 |
| Hemodialysis graft revision with clot removal A procedure to repair a hemodialysis graft and remove a blood clot to restore proper blood flow for dialysis treatment. |
13 | $549 | $2,295 |
| Arterial catheter insertion, initial second order branch A procedure to insert a tube into a secondary branch of an artery in the abdomen, pelvis, or leg. |
12 | $622 | $2,597 |
| Arteriovenous graft creation for hemodialysis Surgical procedure to create a connection between an artery and a vein using a synthetic tube graft to provide access for hemodialysis. |
11 | $496 | $1,891 |
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
72.0% medium
26.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$35,017
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $5,002/year across 7 years
Top 8% in TX for surgery
52
Companies
168
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.
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$14,887 (42.5%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$12,494 (35.7%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$7,636 (21.8%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$11,054
2023
$6,041
2022
$1,261
2021
$3,288
2020
$850
2019
$539
2018
$11,983
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$14,968
Biom'Up SA
$5,668
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$4,529
Baxter Healthcare
$2,951
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$660
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$584
Abbott Laboratories
$576
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$432
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$372
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$270
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$260
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$240
BAXTER HEALTHCARE
$214
Fresenius USA Marketing, Inc.
$209
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC
$177
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$174
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$158
Philips North America LLC
$148
Bolton Medical Inc
$144
Kerecis Limited
$140
MEDELA LLC
$135
Medistim USA, Inc.
$131
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$125
Lilly USA, LLC
$122
Penumbra, Inc.
$121
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$120
Mallinckrodt LLC
$118
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$116
CALLIDITAS THERAPEUTICS US INC.
$106
BIOTRONIK INC.
$88
Sonavex, Inc.
$87
Amgen Inc.
$86
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$76
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.
$73
NxStage Medical, Inc.
$69
Boston Scientific Corporation
$67
ASAHI INTECC USA, INC.
$58
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$53
Endologix LLC
$50
Inari Medical, Inc.
$45
Acist Medical Systems, Inc.
$45
Saranas, Inc.
$39
Cook Medical LLC
$37
Acera Surgical, Inc.
$36
Organogenesis Inc.
$25
CVRx, Inc.
$25
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$18
Novo Nordisk Inc
$16
Medtronic, Inc.
$14
Ethicon US, LLC
$13
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 71.9% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5044) MCOT · (6536) Phoenix · (9260) QC · (9281) Turbo Elite · (AZ7) Lasers · ACTHAR · ACUSEAL Vascular Graft · ARTEGRAFT VASCULAR GRAFT · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · AVEIR · Alto Abdominal Stent Graft System · Auryon Laser System 100-120 Vac · Auryxia · Barostim Neo System · CLEVIPREX · COSEAL · COVERA · CVI Systems · DIAMONDBACK PERIPHERAL · Diamondback Peripheral · ECHELON FLEX Stapler · ENTRESTO · EchoMark · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · Fox Sv PTA catheter and Armada 14 percutaneous catheter and Viatrac 14 Plus peripheral catheter · GORE EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis · General - Vascular Intervention · HAWKONE · HEMOBLAST Bellows · IN.PACT Admiral · Indigo System · Kerecis Omega3 SurgiClose · Kerendia · LOKELMA · LUPKYNIS · LUTONIX Drug Coated Balloon · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · MOUNJARO · Mitra Clip system · Non-Franchise (NOF) - NonProduct · PERIPHERAL VASCULAR · PICO · PREVELEAK · PROPATEN Vascular Graft · PURIFIED CORTROPHIN GEL · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Puraply · RAYALDEE · Rayaldee · Relay Plus · Restrata Wound Matrix · Rybelsus · S · SAMSCA · SEPRAFILM · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · STRAVIX PL · SYSTEM ONE · Shockwave IVL System with the Shockwave C2 Coronary IVL Catheter · TARPEYO · TAVNEOS · TIGRIS Stent · Tornado · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin Bioactive Surface · VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endoprosthesis · Vafseo · Velphoro · WavelinQ · ZENITH SPIRAL-Z
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 →
Payments are distributed across multiple categories with no single dominant type. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for surgery in TX.
Equivalent to $1,588 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Surgerists within 10 mi
274
Per 100K population
13.4
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO
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. Otero is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 4% in TX), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 8% 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. Otero experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Otero performed 1,033 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Otero receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Otero received a total of $35,017 from 52 companies across 168 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. Otero's costs compare to other surgerists in San Antonio?
Dr. Otero's average Medicare payment per service is $64. 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. Otero) 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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