Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Suneetha Challagundla, MD
Hematology & Oncology · San Antonio, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Challagundla 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. Challagundla
Dr. Suneetha Challagundla is a hematology & oncology specialist in San Antonio, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Challagundla performed 85,778 Medicare services in 2023. These records do not provide a deduplicated patient total.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Challagundla received a total of $7,979 from 49 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 601 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly reported through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their effect on care. A reliable breakdown by payment category is not available in this snapshot. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Challagundla is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 19 years of NPI registration
▲ Top 10% volume in TX
$7,979 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary — 2023
Medicare Utilization ↗85,778
Medicare services
Top 10% in TX for hematology & oncology
Not available
Unique patients (not deduplicated)
$7
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darbepoetin injection (Aranesp) for anemia An injection of darbepoetin alfa used for non-end-stage renal disease purposes. |
17,410 | $2 | $20 |
| Iron infusion (Feraheme) An injection of ferumoxytol used to treat iron deficiency anemia in patients not on dialysis. |
17,340 | $0 | $5 |
| Azacitidine chemotherapy injection An injection of the medication azacitidine, measured at 1 mg per unit. |
13,800 | $0 | $13 |
| Anti-nausea injection (fosaprepitant) An injection of fosaprepitant, a medication used to prevent nausea and vomiting. |
8,700 | $0 | $5 |
| Immune globulin infusion (Octagam) This procedure involves the administration of immune globulin medication directly into a vein. It is provided in a non-lyophilized liquid form. |
4,170 | $33 | $234 |
| 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. |
3,069 | $0 | $3 |
| Flow cytometry, additional marker An additional marker is tested during a flow cytometry procedure to analyze DNA or cells. This step adds specific data points to the initial analysis. |
2,217 | $17 | $180 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
1,804 | $8 | $20 |
| 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. |
1,787 | $8 | $36 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
1,784 | $10 | $64 |
| Bortezomib injection, 0.1 mg Administration of a 0.1 mg dose of bortezomib medication via injection. |
1,645 | $3 | $116 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
1,306 | $0 | $1 |
| 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. |
1,131 | $88 | $368 |
| Injection, granisetron hydrochloride, 100 mcg | 1,110 | $0 | $24 |
| Immunoglobulin level test A blood test that measures the level of gammaglobulins, which are immune system proteins. |
825 | $9 | $56 |
| Anti-nausea injection (Aloxi/palonosetron) | 690 | $1 | $114 |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level test A blood test that measures the amount of lactate dehydrogenase, an enzyme found in many body tissues. It helps assess tissue damage or disease. |
574 | $6 | $31 |
| 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. |
483 | $60 | $247 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
429 | $13 | $60 |
| Iron level test | 428 | $6 | $27 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
428 | $8 | $35 |
| Immunoglobulin light chain measurement A blood test that measures the levels of immunoglobulin light chains, which are proteins produced by plasma cells. |
346 | $17 | $60 |
| Additional sequential IV infusion, 1 hour or less This code represents an additional intravenous infusion administered sequentially to a primary infusion. It covers the administration time of one hour or less. |
337 | $21 | $157 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
236 | $97 | $707 |
| 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. |
203 | $62 | $250 |
| Fluorouracil injection, 500 mg Administration of a 500 mg dose of fluorouracil medication via injection. |
181 | $2 | $13 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
168 | $7 | $431 |
| Immunologic analysis for detection of tumor antigen, quantitative; ca 15-3 | 162 | $20 | $128 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
148 | $47 | $313 |
| Non-hormonal chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering non-hormonal anti-neoplastic chemotherapy medication via injection into the skin or muscle tissue. |
148 | $55 | $211 |
| 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. |
146 | $10 | $96 |
| Beta-2 microglobulin level test A blood test that measures the level of beta-2 microglobulin, a protein produced by cells in the body. |
143 | $16 | $96 |
| Manual white blood cell count A laboratory test that involves examining a sample under a microscope to manually count the number of white blood cells present. |
141 | $4 | $22 |
| 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. |
141 | $6 | $34 |
| Reticulated platelet measurement A blood test that measures the level of young, newly formed platelets in the body. |
139 | $35 | $143 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
138 | $11 | $108 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
135 | $14 | $73 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
134 | $15 | $76 |
| Coagulation function measurement, d-dimer; quantitative | 131 | $10 | $129 |
| Additional hour of intravenous infusion This code represents each additional hour of intravenous infusion beyond the initial hour for therapy, prevention, or diagnosis. |
112 | $14 | $100 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
108 | $4 | $30 |
| Diphenhydramine injection, up to 50 mg An injection of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, an antihistamine medication, administered in a dose of up to 50 milligrams. |
107 | $1 | $7 |
| Flow cytometry DNA or cell analysis, first marker A laboratory test that uses a laser to analyze cells or DNA by detecting a specific marker on the cell surface or within the cell. |
93 | $53 | $298 |
| Sed rate test (inflammation marker) This automated test measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube to detect inflammation in the body. |
82 | $3 | $36 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
72 | $20 | $161 |
| 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. |
72 | $96 | $470 |
| Intravenous infusion of new drug or substance, 1 hour or less This procedure involves administering a new medication or substance directly into a vein through an existing access site. The infusion is completed within one hour or less. |
65 | $49 | $344 |
| 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. |
55 | $117 | $565 |
| Normal saline infusion, 1000 cc Administration of 1000 cc of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater solution. |
54 | $2 | $19 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
52 | $16 | $80 |
| 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. |
51 | $69 | $372 |
| Automated red blood cell count with calculations A blood test that automatically counts red blood cells and performs additional calculations to assess blood health. |
47 | $5 | $26 |
| Serum protein measurement A blood test that measures the total amount of protein in the serum. It helps evaluate overall health and nutritional status. |
46 | $10 | $99 |
| Serum immunofixation test A laboratory test that analyzes a blood serum sample to identify specific abnormal proteins. The procedure uses an immunologic technique to detect and characterize these proteins. |
46 | $22 | $160 |
| Irrigation of implanted venous access device This procedure involves flushing an implanted venous access device to clear blockages or maintain patency. It ensures the device remains functional for delivering medications or fluids. |
44 | $18 | $114 |
| Concurrent intravenous infusion Administration of medication or fluid into a vein for therapy, prevention, or diagnosis while another infusion is being given. |
30 | $15 | $94 |
| Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level test A blood test that measures the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) protein. This test is used to monitor certain types of cancer. |
29 | $19 | $99 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
29 | $137 | $496 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
26 | $41 | $821 |
| Fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries | 25 | $83 | $657 |
| IV chemotherapy initiation with community continuation Initiation of an intravenous chemotherapy infusion in a clinic using clinic supplies, with continuation of the infusion in a community setting such as home or assisted living. |
24 | $124 | $500 |
| Intensity-modulated radiation therapy delivery Delivery of radiation therapy using narrow beams that are spatially and temporally modulated to target specific areas. This process is performed per treatment session. |
24 | $272 | $2,762 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
23 | $153 | $1,067 |
| 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. |
23 | $88 | $357 |
| Injection, hydrocortisone sodium succinate, up to 100 mg | 23 | $11 | $35 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the organs and structures within the abdomen. |
22 | $54 | $234 |
| Nuclear medicine scan from skull base to mid-thigh with CT A nuclear medicine imaging study covering the area from the base of the skull to the middle of the thighs, performed alongside a CT scan. |
22 | $1,012 | $4,802 |
| Stool test for blood to screen for colon tumors A test that analyzes a stool sample to detect hidden blood, which is used to screen for colon tumors. |
21 | $4 | $24 |
| Additional hour of intravenous hydration This code represents each additional hour of intravenous fluid administration beyond the initial hour. It is used to bill for extended hydration therapy. |
16 | $9 | $75 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
14 | $3 | $28 |
| Radiation therapy, 3+ areas, 11-19 MeV Delivery of high-energy radiation (11-19 MeV) to three or more separate treatment areas using custom blocking, tangential ports, wedges, rotational beams, and compensators. |
14 | $165 | $700 |
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. These counts do not measure clinical quality or years of experience.
26.2% high complexity
57.0% medium
16.8% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,979
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,140/year across 7 years
Top 36% in TX for hematology & oncology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
49
Companies
601
Payment records
Payments are publicly reported; disclosure does not establish legality · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment categories are unavailable while the source breakdown is being rebuilt. Company and year totals do not identify how much belongs to each category.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$142
2023
$390
2022
$111
2021
$30
2020
$572
2019
$3,061
2018
$3,674
Payments by company (2024)
Genmab U.S., Inc.
$125
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$1,032
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$965
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$743
Amgen Inc.
$646
PFIZER INC.
$538
Genentech USA, Inc.
$480
Incyte Corporation
$344
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$338
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$289
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$283
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$203
AbbVie, Inc.
$189
Seattle Genetics, Inc.
$177
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$153
Exelixis Inc.
$151
GENZYME CORPORATION
$146
Genmab U.S., Inc.
$125
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$108
Lilly USA, LLC
$72
Celgene Corporation
$72
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$66
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$61
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$55
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.
$54
TESARO, Inc.
$52
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc
$47
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$46
EMD Serono, Inc.
$45
Pharmacyclics LLC, An AbbVie Company
$43
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$42
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$40
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$35
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$30
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$29
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$25
Eisai Inc.
$25
Taiho Oncology, Inc.
$25
ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.
$24
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$24
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$22
ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC
$21
Sobi, Inc
$19
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$17
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$16
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.
$13
Array BioPharma Inc.
$12
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$11
Sandoz Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 34.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADCETRIS · AFINITOR · AKYNZEO · Alecensa · Aliqopa · BOSULIF · Balversa · Bavencio · Blincyto · Braftovi · CABLIVI · CALQUENCE · CHANTIX · CYRAMZA · Cabometyx · DARZALEX · DOPTELET · ELITEK · EMEND · EMPLICITI · ERLEADA · Enhertu · Epkinly · Erleada · GAZYVA · GILOTRIF · GIVLAARI · HEMLIBRA · Halaven · IBRANCE · IDHIFA · IMBRUVICA · IMFINZI · INJECTAFER · INLYTA · Imbruvica · JADENU · JAKAFI · JEVTANA · KANJINTI · KEYTRUDA · KISQALI · Kyprolis · LIBTAYO · LIBTAYO CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC INJECTION · Lenvima · Lonsurf · Lupron · Lupron Depot · MEKINIST · MYLOTARG · NERLYNX · NINLARO · Nerlynx · Neulasta · Nexavar · Nplate · OPDIVO · OSTEOCOOL RF ABLATION · PIQRAY · PROMACTA · Perjeta · RYDAPT · Revlimid · SCEMBLIX · SOMATULINE DEPOT · SPRYCEL · SUTENT · Stivarga · TASIGNA · TECENTRIQ · Tavalisse · ULTOMIRIS · VENCLEXTA · VOTRIENT · VYXEOS · Venclexta · Vitrakvi · WILATE · XALKORI · XARELTO · XGEVA · XOSPATA · XPOVIO · XTANDI · Xermelo · ZARXIO · ZEJULA
Should you be concerned? Industry payments are disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their purpose, legality, or effect on care. 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 →
Geographic Context
Hematology & oncology specialists in nearby ZIP areas
56
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital to ZIP centroid (approximate)
SAN ANTONIO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | NPPES snapshot; verify current record |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | PECOS snapshot |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not included | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Challagundla is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 10% in TX), with 19 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Challagundla experienced with darbepoetin injection (aranesp) for anemia?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Challagundla performed 17,410 darbepoetin injection (aranesp) for anemia services. These records cover Medicare fee-for-service activity, including eligible younger beneficiaries; they do not measure total practice volume or clinical quality.
Does Dr. Challagundla receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Challagundla received a total of $7,979 from 49 companies across 601 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their legality or effect on care. 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. Challagundla's costs compare to other hematology & oncology specialists in San Antonio?
Dr. Challagundla's average Medicare payment per service is $7. 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. Challagundla) 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 the presence of registry, enrollment, activity or payment records, not verified experience or clinical quality. 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?
Source publication dates and the snapshots loaded on this site can differ. Rebuilding a page does not refresh its source records. Check the Medicare reporting year and the payment interval shown above; consult the linked official sources for newer releases and current registry details. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
This page combines public CMS records with calculated summaries and explanatory procedure labels. These transformations are not verbatim federal records. Sources: 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. Data Coverage reflects 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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