Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Dinger, D.O.
Pain Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) Physician · Schertz, TX
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Dinger 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. Dinger
Dr. Stephen Dinger is a pain medicine physician in Schertz, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Dinger performed 11,430 Medicare services across 1,773 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Dinger received a total of $28,045 from 42 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 331 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. Dinger 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 3% volume in TX
$28,045 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗11,430
Medicare services
Top 3% in TX for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician
1,773
Unique beneficiaries
$28
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~602 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
4,380 | $0 | $1 |
| Joint lubricant injection (GenVisc) An injection of hyaluronan or its derivative into a joint space to provide lubrication and cushioning. |
3,700 | $5 | $35 |
| 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. |
1,595 | $64 | $280 |
| Drug screening test A laboratory test that uses a chemistry analyzer to detect the presence of drugs in a sample. |
191 | $60 | $200 |
| 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. |
158 | $80 | $307 |
| Additional sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into an additional sacral spine nerve root level, guided by imaging. |
156 | $100 | $256 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
143 | $86 | $299 |
| Sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a sacral spine nerve root. The procedure uses imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
143 | $219 | $654 |
| Electromyography of arm or leg muscles A test that measures the electrical activity in the muscles of the arm or leg using a needle electrode. It helps evaluate the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them. |
126 | $74 | $238 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the lower or sacral spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
79 | $167 | $514 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging guidance An injection into a lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance for the second level treated. |
77 | $89 | $254 |
| Spinal injection with imaging guidance A procedure where medication is injected into the middle or upper part of the spinal canal. Imaging technology is used to guide the needle to the correct location. |
65 | $197 | $718 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
62 | $0 | $10 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
52 | $184 | $474 |
| 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. |
48 | $93 | $312 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint A procedure to destroy nerves in a single lower or sacral spinal facet joint using imaging guidance to target pain signals. |
45 | $330 | $1,014 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
39 | $43 | $175 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
39 | $43 | $250 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
38 | $4 | $33 |
| Nerve conduction studies, 13 or more A diagnostic test that measures how well nerves send electrical signals. This code applies when 13 or more individual nerve studies are performed. |
36 | $219 | $857 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
33 | $48 | $179 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
32 | $87 | $263 |
| 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. |
30 | $125 | $470 |
| Injection into lower spine canal with imaging guidance A procedure where a substance is injected into the lower part of the spinal canal. The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
28 | $189 | $704 |
| Nerve conduction study, 9-10 studies A diagnostic test that measures how well nerves send electrical signals. It involves performing 9 to 10 separate nerve conduction studies to evaluate nerve function. |
24 | $162 | $631 |
| Injection of anesthetic or steroid into sacroiliac joint with imaging guidance This procedure involves injecting an anesthetic or steroid medication into the joint connecting the lower spine and hip bone. Imaging guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
21 | $129 | $480 |
| Trigger point injection, 3 or more muscles Injection of medication into three or more specific muscle trigger points to relieve pain. |
19 | $42 | $184 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
19 | $17 | $80 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
18 | $36 | $160 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the upper or middle spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
17 | $201 | $569 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging An injection into a second spinal facet joint in the upper or middle spine, guided by imaging to ensure accurate placement. |
17 | $102 | $277 |
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 ↗$28,045
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $4,006/year across 7 years
Top 6% in TX for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician
42
Companies
331
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
$15,427 (55.0%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$12,617 (45.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,212
2023
$4,585
2022
$886
2021
$755
2020
$324
2019
$6,705
2018
$12,578
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
$15,427
Boston Scientific Corporation
$3,170
Nevro Corp.
$2,499
Abbott Laboratories
$2,015
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$1,083
SI-BONE, Inc.
$403
SI-BONE, INC.
$369
PAINTEQ LLC
$366
SPR Therapeutics, Inc
$340
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$211
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$196
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$173
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$172
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$152
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$150
MML US, Inc.
$148
AbbVie Inc.
$137
Almatica Pharma LLC
$113
Medtronic, Inc.
$105
ABBVIE INC.
$97
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$94
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$70
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$59
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$52
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$44
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$41
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$40
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$40
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$36
Vertiflex, Inc.
$32
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$25
PFIZER INC.
$23
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$20
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$20
Amgen Inc.
$20
Avanos Medical
$19
Nuvectra Corporation
$17
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$17
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$16
Purdue Pharma L.P.
$15
BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
$12
Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 75.2% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCURIAN · AJOVY · Aimovig · Algovita · Axium INS DRG IPG · BELBUCA · BIOTRONIK · BOTOX · BUNAVAIL 2.1 mg 30-count box · Belbuca · ClosureFast · DRG IPGs · Evoke · Evoke SCS · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL - PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERATOR · GRALISE · General - Pain Management · IFUSE IMPLANT · INFINION · INTELLIS · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · Intracept · Iovera · LICART · LUCEMYRA · LYRICA · Levorphanol · Morphabond ER · NA · NAPRELAN · NUEDEXTA · Nalu Neurostimulation System · Natesto · Neuromodulation Dspsbls and Accs · OCTRODE · Omnia · PAINTEQ · PROCLAIM · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Proclaim IPG · Prospera · QULIPTA · QUTENZA · Qutenza · RELISTOR ORAL · ReActiv8 · SPECTRA WAVEWRITER · SPRINT PNS System · SYMPROIC · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · Superion ISS · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · Tirosint · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XTAMPZA · ZTLido · Zilretta · iFuse Implant
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 (55%) 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 6% for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician in TX.
Equivalent to $245 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Pain medicine physicians within 10 mi
9
Per 100K population
0.4
County median income
$70,571
Nearest hospital
LAUREL RIDGE TREATMENT CENTER
11.0 mi
11.0 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. Dinger is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in TX), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 6% 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. Dinger experienced with dexamethasone injection (steroid)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Dinger performed 4,380 dexamethasone injection (steroid) 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. Dinger receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Dinger received a total of $28,045 from 42 companies across 331 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. Dinger's costs compare to other pain medicine physicians in Schertz?
Dr. Dinger'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. Dinger) 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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