Medicare Enrolled
Dr. George Vassar, MD
Urology Physician · San Antonio, 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. Vassar 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. Vassar
Dr. George Vassar is an urology physician in San Antonio, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Vassar performed 8,729 Medicare services across 4,863 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Vassar received a total of $4,237 from 42 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 169 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. Vassar 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 11% volume in TX
$4,237 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,729
Medicare services
Top 11% in TX for urology physician
4,863
Unique beneficiaries
$28
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~459 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
1,936 | $8 | $10 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 1,440 | $18 | $31 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
934 | $3 | $15 |
| Infectious disease DNA/RNA test A laboratory test that uses a specific technique to detect the genetic material of an organism. This method amplifies the target DNA or RNA to identify the presence of the organism. |
774 | $34 | $78 |
| 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. |
703 | $40 | $81 |
| 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. |
624 | $87 | $215 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 486 | $18 | $110 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
424 | $7 | $95 |
| 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. |
335 | $60 | $150 |
| 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. |
101 | $25 | $150 |
| 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. |
79 | $9 | $30 |
| Cystourethroscopy A diagnostic exam of the bladder and urethra using an endoscope to visually inspect the urinary tract. |
73 | $173 | $490 |
| 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. |
70 | $43 | $180 |
| 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. |
69 | $72 | $210 |
| Staphylococcus aureus DNA test A laboratory test that uses DNA amplification to detect the presence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in a sample. |
64 | $34 | $78 |
| Group B Strep DNA test A laboratory test that uses DNA amplification to detect the presence of Group B Streptococcus bacteria. |
64 | $34 | $78 |
| Yeast/candida DNA test A laboratory test that uses an amplified probe technique to detect the presence of Candida species, a type of yeast, in a patient sample. |
63 | $34 | $78 |
| 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. |
63 | $105 | $313 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
59 | $8 | $45 |
| Free PSA test A blood test that measures the amount of unbound prostate-specific antigen in the blood. |
41 | $18 | $150 |
| Tumor marker analysis A laboratory test that analyzes a sample to detect the presence of tumor markers. These markers are substances that may be found in the blood, urine, or body tissues. |
41 | $20 | $115 |
| Simple change of bladder tube | 40 | $70 | $155 |
| Red blood cell concentration measurement A laboratory test that measures the concentration of red blood cells in the blood. |
35 | $2 | $8 |
| Hemoglobin blood test A blood test that measures the amount of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. |
35 | $2 | $8 |
| Prostate gland biopsy A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination. |
22 | $79 | $350 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
22 | $22 | $285 |
| 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. |
22 | $21 | $75 |
| Prostate needle biopsy pathology exam Laboratory examination of prostate tissue samples obtained via needle biopsy. The pathologist inspects the tissue both visually and under a microscope to identify any abnormalities. |
21 | $140 | $780 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
19 | $7 | $25 |
| Complete blood count (CBC), automated An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. |
16 | $6 | $25 |
| 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. |
16 | $36 | $90 |
| 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. |
14 | $312 | $2,000 |
| 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. |
12 | $61 | $165 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
12 | $100 | $275 |
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.
0.2% high complexity
23.3% medium
76.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$4,237
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $605/year across 7 years
Top 42% in TX for urology physician
42
Companies
169
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
$4,237 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$952
2023
$675
2022
$570
2021
$240
2020
$130
2019
$929
2018
$741
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$571
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$511
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$206
Coloplast Corp
$182
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$181
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$177
PFIZER INC.
$155
Amgen Inc.
$153
Calyxo, Inc.
$142
Olympus America Inc.
$136
TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$136
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$127
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$120
AbbVie, Inc.
$104
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$92
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$84
Dornier MedTech America, Inc
$83
UROVANT SCIENCES INC
$77
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$74
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$72
ABBVIE INC.
$70
UroGen Pharma, Inc.
$67
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$67
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$65
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$63
Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$57
Allergan Inc.
$56
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$52
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$45
AbbVie Inc.
$43
Allergan, Inc.
$37
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$35
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$30
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$26
GENZYME CORPORATION
$25
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$22
Duchesnay USA Incorporated
$20
Cook Medical LLC
$17
UROGEN PHARMA, INC.
$15
Medtronic, Inc.
$15
Egalet US Inc
$13
Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$12
Top 3 companies account for 30.4% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AKEEGA · AMS · AMS 700 · AVEED · AdVance XP · Androgel · Axumin · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · CVAC ASPIRATION SYSTEM · Cook Medical Extractors · ELIGARD · ERLEADA · Erleada · GEMTESA · GENERAL BPH · INTERSTIM · JELMYTO · JEVTANA · KEYTRUDA · LYNPARZA · LithoVue · LithoVue Empower · Lithotripters & Accessories · Lupron · Lupron Depot · MYRBETRIQ · Myrbetriq · NANOKNIFE · NOCDURNA · Natesto · Noctiva · ORGOVYX · Osphena · Otrexup · PLUVICTO · POSLUMA · PREMARIN · PROVENGE · PYLARIFY · Prolia · SPRIX · SUTENT · TACTRA · TITAN · Veozah · XGEVA · XIAFLEX · XTANDI · XYOSTED · Xofigo · Xtandi · YONSA · ZYTIGA · iTIND System
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 $49 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Urology physicians within 10 mi
100
Per 100K population
4.9
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital
SOUTH TEXAS SPINE AND SURGICAL 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. Vassar is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% 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. Vassar experienced with blood draw (venipuncture)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Vassar performed 1,936 blood draw (venipuncture) 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. Vassar receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Vassar received a total of $4,237 from 42 companies across 169 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. Vassar's costs compare to other urology physicians in San Antonio?
Dr. Vassar's average Medicare payment per service is $28. 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. Vassar) 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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