Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Ellen Lin, MD
Pain Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) Physician · San Antonio, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Lin 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. Lin? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Lin
Dr. Ellen Lin is a pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician in San Antonio, TX, with 19 years in practice. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Lin performed 8,563 Medicare services across 4,910 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Lin received a total of $137,810 from 74 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1548 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Lin is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 19 years in practice▲ Top 7% volume in TX$ $137,810 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,563
Medicare services
Top 7% in TX for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician
4,910
Unique beneficiaries
$108
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~451 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injection, midazolam hydrochloride, per 1 mg | 1,515 | $0 | $10 |
| Contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration | 1,198 | $0 | $3 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) | 596 | $0 | $10 |
| Destruction of lower or sacral spinal facet joint nerves using imaging guidance, each additional facet joint | 476 | $274 | $720 |
| Use of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by physician performing a procedure (5 years or older), initial 15 minutes | 462 | $38 | $150 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 80 mg | 444 | $9 | $30 |
| Injection of lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance, single level | 348 | $192 | $510 |
| Injection of lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance, second level | 344 | $103 | $260 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) | 319 | $63 | $255 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) | 311 | $85 | $360 |
| Destruction of lower or sacral spinal facet joint nerves using imaging guidance, single facet joint | 294 | $487 | $1,290 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) | 256 | $82 | $300 |
| Injection of anesthetic and/or steroid drug into sacral spine nerve root using imaging guidance, single level | 205 | $213 | $720 |
| Destruction of upper or middle spinal facet joint nerves using imaging guidance, each additional facet joint | 177 | $272 | $750 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) | 160 | $39 | $150 |
| Injection of upper or middle spine facet joint using imaging guidance, single level | 152 | $200 | $540 |
| Injection of upper or middle spine facet joint using imaging guidance, second level | 152 | $104 | $270 |
| Injection, cefazolin sodium, 500 mg | 148 | $1 | $10 |
| Testing for presence of drug, read by direct observation | 112 | $12 | $50 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) | 112 | $125 | $480 |
| Destruction of upper or middle spinal facet joint nerves using imaging guidance, single facet joint | 101 | $449 | $1,290 |
| Insertion of spinal neurostimulator electrode array through skin | 96 | $1,309 | $6,840 |
| Injection of substance into middle or upper spine canal using imaging guidance | 79 | $192 | $750 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 71 | $6 | $18 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement | 52 | $82 | $330 |
| Removal of bone from lower spine for decompression of nerve tissue using imaging guidance, accessed through the skin | 49 | $706 | $2,790 |
| Injection of anesthetic agent and/or steroid into knee nerve branch using imaging guidance | 43 | $183 | $660 |
| Joint injection, major joint | 37 | $47 | $180 |
| Injection of anesthetic or steroid into joint between lower spine and hip bone using imaging guidance | 32 | $138 | $480 |
| Incision of multiple tendons of thigh or hamstring muscle | 29 | $335 | $1,200 |
| Insertion of peripheral nerve neurostimulator electrode through skin | 27 | $1,395 | $6,600 |
| Injection of anesthetic agent and/or steroid into other nerve or branch | 24 | $57 | $220 |
| Use of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by physician performing a procedure, each additional 15 minutes | 23 | $8 | $30 |
| Injection of trigger points, 1-2 muscles | 21 | $31 | $150 |
| Insertion of spinal neurostimulator generator or receiver | 21 | $143 | $1,055 |
| Injection of anesthetic and/or steroid drug into sacral spine nerve root using imaging guidance, each additional level | 20 | $91 | $330 |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit, 15-29 minutes | 18 | $50 | $210 |
| Destruction of nerve branches of knee using imaging guidance | 14 | $334 | $1,140 |
| Injection of anesthetic agent and/or steroid into suprascapular shoulder nerve | 13 | $63 | $240 |
| Insertion of peripheral or gastric neurostimulator generator | 12 | $62 | $533 |
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 ↗$137,810
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $19,687/year across 7 years
Top 1% in TX for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician
74
Companies
1,548
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
$85,907 (62.3%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$38,343 (27.8%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$13,560 (9.8%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024$8,690
2023$4,269
2022$9,600
2021$15,201
2020$19,916
2019$52,743
2018$27,391
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Nevro Corp.
$82,177
Stimwave Technologies Incorporated
$15,340
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$8,127
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$5,514
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$3,886
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$3,709
Curonix LLC
$3,470
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$2,407
Allergan, Inc.
$1,642
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$1,177
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$1,061
Abbott Laboratories
$903
SPINEFRONTIER, INC.
$703
HydroCision, Inc.
$679
Boston Scientific Corporation
$650
Vertiflex, Inc.
$419
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$364
PFIZER INC.
$346
Amgen Inc.
$327
Lundbeck LLC
$323
Eisai Inc.
$286
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$260
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
$254
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$248
Novo Nordisk Inc
$229
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$223
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$212
Zyla Life Sciences
$194
Egalet US Inc
$176
ABBVIE INC.
$164
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
$149
Almatica Pharma LLC
$139
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$117
PAINTEQ LLC
$117
Camber Spine Technologies LLC
$112
Lilly USA, LLC
$106
Vertical Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$97
Interventional Pain Technologies Inc.
$90
SPR Therapeutics, Inc
$87
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$85
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$85
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$82
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$79
SI-BONE, Inc.
$73
AbbVie Inc.
$71
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$66
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$66
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$63
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$59
INSYS Therapeutics Inc
$55
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$47
Zyla Life Sciences, Inc.
$41
US WorldMeds, LLC
$39
Trevena, Inc.
$38
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$37
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$34
BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
$33
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
$32
Spinal Simplicity, LLC
$22
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$18
Shionogi Inc
$17
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$16
Radius Health, Inc.
$15
UPSHER-SMITH LABORATORIES LLC
$15
Nalpropion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$15
Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
Nalpropion Pharmaceuticals LLC
$14
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$14
ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, Inc.
$13
Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.
$13
Horizon Pharma plc
$13
AKRIMAX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$12
Purdue Pharma L.P.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 76.7% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTIVA · ADAPTIVESTIM · AIMOVIG · AJOVY · Aimovig · Axium INS DRG IPG · BELBUCA · BELSOMRA · BUNAVAIL · BUNAVAIL 2.1 mg 30-count box · Belbuca · Belviq · Biomet SpinalPak · CFNS StimQ Peripheral Nerve StimulatorSystem · CONTRAVE · Cambia · Crysvita · Dayvigo · EMGALITY · EVENITY · Evoke · Evoke SCS · FORTEO · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL - THERAPIES · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL THERAPIES · GRALISE · Gralise · HA MINUTEMAN G3-R · HORIZANT · Horizant · INTELLIS · InSpan · Intracept · LORZONE · Levorphanol · Licart · Lucemyra/Lofexidine · METHYLPHENIDATE 72 · MOVANTIK · MYOBLOC · Morphabond ER · NAPRELAN · NURTEC ODT · Nalu Neurostimulation System · Neuromodulation Dspsbls and Accs · Nucynta · Nucynta ER · NucyntaER · Octrode SCS Leads · Olinvyk · Omnia · PAINTEQ · PENNSAID · PNS FREEDOM-4A PERMANENT NEUROSTIMULATOR RECEIVER KIT CHANNEL A · Primlev · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · QULIPTA · QUTENZA · Qutenza · RAYOS · RELEXXII · RELISTOR · RELISTOR ORAL · SCS leads · SPECTRA WAVEWRITER · SPRINT PNS System · SPRIX · SUBSYS · SYMPROIC · Saxenda · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · StimQ Peripheral Nerve StimulatorSystem · StimQ Receiver Stimulator Kit Channel A US w Receiver · StimQ Receiver Stimulator Kit Channel A US w/Receiver · Superion · Superion ISS · Superion Indirect Decompression System · Symproic · TENJET · THERAPIES · TenJet · Tymlos · UBRELVY · VYEPTI · Vyrsa V1 · WAVEWRITER ALPHA · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · Wegovy · XTAMPZA · ZAVZPRET · ZEMBRACE SYMTOUCH · ZEPBOUND · ZIPSOR · ZORVOLEX · ZTLido · ZTLido 30 POUCH in 1 CARTON 1 PATCH in 1 POUCH · Zipsor · iFuse Implant · mild Device Kit
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 (62%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 1% for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician in TX.
Equivalent to $1,609 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Pain Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) Physicians within 10 mi
10
Per 100K population
0.5
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital
SAN ANTONIO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE 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. Lin is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 7% in TX), and high industry engagement (speaking/promotional, top 1%), with 19 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. Lin experienced with injection, midazolam hydrochloride, per 1 mg?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Lin performed 1,515 injection, midazolam hydrochloride, per 1 mg 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. Lin receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Lin received a total of $137,810 from 74 companies across 1,548 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. Lin's costs compare to other pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physicians in San Antonio?
Dr. Lin's average Medicare payment per service is $108. 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. Lin) 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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