Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Tristan Lai, MD
Pain Medicine · Spring Branch, 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. Lai 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. Lai
Dr. Tristan Lai is a pain medicine specialist in Spring Branch, TX, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Lai performed 3,388 Medicare services across 1,089 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Lai received a total of $17,476 from 29 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 411 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pain 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. Lai 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 22% volume in TX
$17,476 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,388
Medicare services
Top 22% in TX for pain medicine
1,089
Unique beneficiaries
$53
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~188 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
768 | $88 | $376 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
750 | $0 | $9 |
| Drug test with direct observation A drug screening test performed under direct observation to ensure the sample is provided correctly. This method is used to verify the integrity of the specimen collection process. |
289 | $12 | $60 |
| Contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration | 272 | $0 | $3 |
| 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. |
244 | $64 | $266 |
| Acupuncture with electrical stimulation, each additional 15 minutes This code represents an additional 15-minute unit of acupuncture treatment that includes the application of electrical stimulation. |
159 | $28 | $112 |
| 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. |
125 | $109 | $489 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
97 | $1 | $8 |
| Acupuncture with electrical stimulation, initial 15 minutes This procedure involves inserting needles into specific points on the body and applying mild electrical currents to stimulate them. It is performed for the first 15 minutes of the treatment session. |
81 | $34 | $136 |
| Spinal drug pump reprogramming and refill A physician electronically adjusts the settings of a spinal drug infusion pump and refills its medication reservoir. |
68 | $65 | $779 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
68 | $4 | $28 |
| Electronic analysis and reprogramming of spinal drug pump This procedure involves electronically analyzing and reprogramming a spinal canal drug infusion pump. It does not include the surgical insertion or removal of the device. |
59 | $31 | $401 |
| 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. |
56 | $142 | $944 |
| 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. |
54 | $200 | $1,963 |
| 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. |
50 | $87 | $884 |
| 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. |
48 | $94 | $384 |
| 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. |
30 | $180 | $2,148 |
| 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. |
24 | $200 | $1,611 |
| 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. |
24 | $96 | $808 |
| 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. |
23 | $170 | $1,939 |
| 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. |
22 | $64 | $327 |
| 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. |
21 | $471 | $3,082 |
| 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. |
20 | $195 | $1,712 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
18 | $265 | $1,221 |
| Methylprednisolone acetate injection, 80 mg An injection of 80 mg of methylprednisolone acetate, a corticosteroid medication. |
18 | $9 | $33 |
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 ↗$17,476
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,497/year across 7 years
Top 14% in TX for pain medicine
29
Companies
411
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
$15,153 (86.7%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$2,322 (13.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,885
2023
$2,343
2022
$4,405
2021
$2,230
2020
$1,337
2019
$1,096
2018
$2,181
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Abbott Laboratories
$10,156
Medtronic, Inc.
$2,155
Nevro Corp.
$1,315
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,164
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$503
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$343
SI-BONE, INC.
$248
SPR Therapeutics, Inc
$177
ABBVIE INC.
$165
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$160
SI-BONE, Inc.
$152
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$139
Vertiflex, Inc.
$87
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$84
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$83
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$81
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$62
Allergan, Inc.
$60
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$53
PFIZER INC.
$49
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$48
Almatica Pharma LLC
$41
Orthogenrx Inc.
$39
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$38
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$25
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$14
RedHill Biopharma Inc.
$13
MDD US Operations, LLC
$12
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 78.0% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AJOVY · AXIUM · Axium INS DRG IPG · Axium Sheath Braided DRG · BOTOX · Belbuca · ETERNA · Evoke SCS · FLECTOR · GRALISE · GenVisc 850 · General - Pain Management · IFUSE IMPLANT · INTELLIS · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · IONICRF · Intracept · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · MYOBLOC · Morphabond ER · Movantik · NAPRELAN · NT1100 NT2000iX Simplicity · NURTEC ODT · Nalu Neurostimulation System · Neuromodulation Dspsbls and Accs · OCTRODE · PENTA · PROCLAIM · PRODIGY · PROTG · Penta SCS Leads · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Proclaim IPG · Prodigy Family of SCS IPGs · Prospera · Protege Family of SCS IPGs · QULIPTA · Qutenza · RELISTOR · SPECTRA WAVEWRITER · SPRINT PNS System · SYNCHROMED · SYNCHROMEDII · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · Superion ISS · Superion Indirect Decompression System · UBRELVY · Vanta · XTAMPZA · ZTLido · iFuse Implant · mild Device Kit
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 (87%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $516 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Pain medicines within 10 mi
9
Per 100K population
5.2
County median income
$99,015
Nearest hospital
LAUREL RIDGE TREATMENT CENTER
18.5 mi
18.5 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. Lai is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 22% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 14% of TX peers, 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. Lai experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Lai performed 768 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Lai receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Lai received a total of $17,476 from 29 companies across 411 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. Lai's costs compare to other pain medicines in Spring Branch?
Dr. Lai's average Medicare payment per service is $53. 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. Lai) 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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