Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sushma Vemulapalli, MD
Internal Medicine · San Antonio, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Vemulapalli 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. Vemulapalli
Dr. Sushma Vemulapalli is an internal medicine specialist in San Antonio, TX, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Vemulapalli performed 30,181 Medicare services across 1,967 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Vemulapalli received a total of $441 from 14 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 19 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in internal medicine. 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. Vemulapalli 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.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 1% volume in TX
$441 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗30,181
Medicare services
Top 1% in TX for internal medicine
1,967
Unique beneficiaries
$7
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~1,677 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron sucrose injection (Venofer) An injection of iron sucrose used to replenish iron levels in the body. |
11,200 | $0 | $2 |
| Anti-nausea injection (fosaprepitant) An injection of fosaprepitant, a medication used to prevent nausea and vomiting. |
8,700 | $0 | $5 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 1,860 | $19 | $66 |
| Epoetin alfa injection (Retacrit) for anemia An injection of a biosimilar form of epoetin alfa used for non-end-stage renal disease purposes. The dose administered is 1000 units. |
1,328 | $6 | $28 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
1,000 | $0 | $1 |
| 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. |
730 | $8 | $36 |
| Anti-nausea injection (Aloxi/palonosetron) | 690 | $1 | $114 |
| 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. |
666 | $91 | $368 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
645 | $8 | $20 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
599 | $10 | $64 |
| 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. |
290 | $22 | $157 |
| 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. |
276 | $18 | $180 |
| 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. |
182 | $10 | $96 |
| Immunoglobulin light chain measurement A blood test that measures the levels of immunoglobulin light chains, which are proteins produced by plasma cells. |
176 | $17 | $60 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
172 | $98 | $707 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
169 | $13 | $60 |
| Iron level test | 169 | $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. |
169 | $8 | $35 |
| 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. |
122 | $48 | $344 |
| 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. |
116 | $58 | $250 |
| Immunologic analysis for detection of tumor antigen, quantitative; ca 15-3 | 102 | $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. |
88 | $47 | $313 |
| Diphenhydramine injection, up to 50 mg An injection of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, an antihistamine medication, administered in a dose of up to 50 milligrams. |
75 | $1 | $7 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
68 | $8 | $49 |
| 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. |
59 | $19 | $99 |
| 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. |
59 | $19 | $114 |
| Intravenous push injection of new drug or substance A healthcare provider injects a new medication or substance directly into a vein using a push technique. |
56 | $42 | $289 |
| Immunoglobulin level test A blood test that measures the level of gammaglobulins, which are immune system proteins. |
52 | $9 | $56 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
47 | $21 | $161 |
| 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. |
45 | $120 | $565 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
44 | $14 | $76 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
44 | $14 | $73 |
| 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. |
41 | $2 | $19 |
| 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. |
39 | $6 | $31 |
| 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. |
25 | $89 | $357 |
| 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. |
24 | $58 | $247 |
| Serum protein measurement A blood test that measures the total amount of protein in the serum. It helps evaluate overall health and nutritional status. |
15 | $11 | $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. |
15 | $22 | $160 |
| 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. |
12 | $56 | $298 |
| 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 | $89 | $470 |
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.
2.4% high complexity
83.3% medium
14.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$441
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $63/year across 7 years
Bottom 46% in TX for internal medicine
14
Companies
19
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
$372 (84.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$69 (15.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$299
2023
$48
2022
$16
2021
$27
2020
$11
2019
$24
2018
$14
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Genmab U.S., Inc.
$125
Celgene Corporation
$48
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$47
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$37
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$34
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$25
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$17
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$15
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$14
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$14
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$12
Kite Pharma, Inc.
$11
Clovis Oncology, Inc.
$10
Top 3 companies account for 50.0% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Epkinly · IMFINZI · LIBTAYO · MULTAQ · OJJAARA · OPDUALAG · Rubraca · SCEMBLIX · Stivarga · ULTOMIRIS · Xospata
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 (84%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $1 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Internal medicine physicians within 10 mi
1,128
Per 100K population
55.4
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital
SAN ANTONIO STATE HOSP STATE SCHOOL
3.9 mi
3.9 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. Vemulapalli is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 18 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. Vemulapalli experienced with iron sucrose injection (venofer)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Vemulapalli performed 11,200 iron sucrose injection (venofer) 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. Vemulapalli receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Vemulapalli received a total of $441 from 14 companies across 19 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. Vemulapalli's costs compare to other internal medicine physicians in San Antonio?
Dr. Vemulapalli'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. Vemulapalli) 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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