Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Jorge Alvarez, MD
Interventional Cardiology · San Antonio, TX
Practice pattern: Cardiac Imaging
— Practice with significant diagnostic imaging and stress testing
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. Alvarez 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. Alvarez
Dr. Jorge Alvarez is an interventional cardiology specialist in San Antonio, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Alvarez performed 7,525 Medicare services across 5,518 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Alvarez received a total of $69,065 from 57 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1209 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in interventional cardiology. 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. Alvarez 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 5% volume in TX
$69,065 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗7,525
Medicare services
Top 5% in TX for interventional cardiology
5,518
Unique beneficiaries
$66
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~396 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
1,663 | $61 | $176 |
| 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. |
934 | $61 | $174 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
821 | $52 | $176 |
| 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. |
799 | $9 | $50 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
619 | $6 | $23 |
| 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. |
368 | $100 | $335 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
359 | $92 | $252 |
| 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. |
328 | $10 | $32 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
187 | $57 | $197 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
179 | $10 | $39 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 177 | $159 | $829 |
| Coronary stent placement A procedure to insert a stent into a coronary artery or its branch to keep it open, using balloon dilation during the process. |
153 | $390 | $1,503 |
| 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. |
151 | $77 | $260 |
| Heart muscle strain imaging | 137 | $9 | $32 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
99 | $16 | $59 |
| Transcatheter aortic valve replacement via femoral artery A minimally invasive procedure to replace a diseased aortic heart valve using a catheter inserted through the skin and femoral artery. |
77 | $570 | $3,365 |
| 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. |
72 | $130 | $492 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
54 | $82 | $278 |
| 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. |
43 | $98 | $256 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
40 | $2 | $10 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. |
39 | $14 | $49 |
| 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. |
39 | $28 | $77 |
| Intravascular ultrasound of heart vessel, initial An ultrasound procedure used to evaluate a blood vessel within the heart during a diagnostic or treatment procedure. |
27 | $38 | $775 |
| Insertion of tube in left lower heart chamber, coronary artery and bypass graft for diagnosis with review by radiologist | 26 | $152 | $922 |
| 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. |
21 | $15 | $58 |
| Coronary angiography A procedure to insert a tube into a coronary artery to capture diagnostic images of the heart's blood vessels. |
17 | $117 | $672 |
| Insertion of tube in right and left heart chambers and coronary artery for diagnosis with review by radiologist | 17 | $224 | $1,027 |
| 3D radiographic procedure A radiographic imaging technique that creates three-dimensional representations of internal structures. |
15 | $7 | $67 |
| 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. |
15 | $9 | $31 |
| External shock to heart to regulate heart beat A procedure that delivers an electric shock to the heart from outside the body to restore a normal heart rhythm. |
14 | $78 | $325 |
| Mitral valve repair through skin, initial prosthesis A minimally invasive procedure to repair the mitral valve using a new prosthetic device inserted through the skin. |
12 | $1,316 | $4,704 |
| 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. |
12 | $122 | $400 |
| Insertion of lower heart blood flow assist device A minimally invasive procedure to place a device that helps blood flow in the lower heart chamber. The device is inserted through the skin using artery access, and a radiologist reviews the placement. |
11 | $136 | $1,095 |
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.
17.3% high complexity
10.6% medium
72.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$69,065
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $9,866/year across 7 years
Top 10% in TX for interventional cardiology
57
Companies
1,209
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
$45,858 (66.4%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$18,810 (27.2%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$4,058 (5.9%)
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$339 (0.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$9,361
2023
$5,052
2022
$8,052
2021
$23,490
2020
$7,015
2019
$3,154
2018
$12,940
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$22,614
Medtronic, Inc.
$15,394
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$15,001
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$4,170
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$1,234
ABIOMED
$1,221
Abbott Laboratories
$1,048
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$912
PFIZER INC.
$710
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$515
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$496
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$472
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$426
Novo Nordisk Inc
$397
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$326
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$323
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$316
Amgen Inc.
$280
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$277
Medicure Pharma Inc.
$264
Ancora Heart, Inc.
$253
Boston Scientific Corporation
$239
Allergan Inc.
$237
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$199
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$163
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$159
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$135
Penumbra, Inc.
$131
ATRICURE, INC.
$97
Acist Medical Systems, Inc.
$96
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$92
Lundbeck LLC
$64
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$61
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$59
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$55
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$54
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$53
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$48
Impulse Dynamics (USA) Inc.
$47
ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS US INC.
$42
BIOTRONIK INC.
$38
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$38
AtriCure, Inc.
$32
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$31
Preventice Services, LLC
$28
Cardinal Health 200, LLC
$27
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
Althera Pharmaceuticals LLC
$23
Maquet Cardiovascular U.S. Sales, L.L.C.
$21
Itamar Medical Inc
$21
Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
$19
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
Inari Medical, Inc.
$15
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$14
Avinger Inc.
$14
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$13
HeartFlow, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 76.8% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AMPLATZER · AMPLATZER Occluders · ANDEXXA · ATRICLIP LAA EXCLUSION SYSTEM · ATRICURE CRYOICE CRYOSPHERE CRYOABLATION SYSTEM · AccuCinch · Andexxa · AngioVac · Avalus · BG Mini Plus · BRILINTA · BYSTOLIC · BodyGuardian · CAMZYOS · CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder · CARDIVA VASCADE MVP VVCS 6-12F · CHANTIX · CLEVIPREX · COREVALVE EVOLUT R · CVI Consumables · CVI Systems · CareLink · CoreValve Evolut · DIAMONDBACK CORONARY · ECM Patch · EDARBI · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · EPI-SENSE GUIDED COAGULATION SYSTEM WITH VISITRAX · EPIC · EVKEEZA · Edarbi · Edarbyclor · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve · FARXIGA · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · FUROSCIX · GENERAL - STRUCTURAL HEART · GENERAL METALLIC STENTS · GENERAL STRUCTURAL HEART · GENERAL THERAPIES · GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder · General - Therapies · HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. · INSPIRE · Impella · Indigo System · Inpefa · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LINZESS · LOKELMA · LifeVest · MAMBA · MULTAQ · Mitra Clip system · MynxGrip Vascular Closure Device · NAVITOR · NEXLETOL · NORTHERA · ONPATTRO · OPTIMIZER · Ozempic · PANTHERIS · PORTICO · PRALUENT · Pouch · Repatha · Roszet · Rybelsus · S · SENSATION · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WatchPAT · Wegovy · XARELTO · ZIO Patch · ZIO XT Patch · ZONTIVITY
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 (66%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in interventional cardiology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 10% for interventional cardiology in TX.
Equivalent to $918 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Interventional cardiologists within 10 mi
33
Per 100K population
1.6
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital
UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM
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. Alvarez is a cardiac imaging specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in TX), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 10% 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. Alvarez experienced with hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Alvarez performed 1,663 hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity 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. Alvarez receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Alvarez received a total of $69,065 from 57 companies across 1,209 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. Alvarez's costs compare to other interventional cardiologists in San Antonio?
Dr. Alvarez's average Medicare payment per service is $66. 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. Alvarez) 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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