Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Nora Cantu, MD
Family Medicine · Sugar Land, 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. Cantu 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. Cantu
Dr. Nora Cantu is a family medicine specialist in Sugar Land, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cantu performed 1,147 Medicare services across 861 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cantu received a total of $16,553 from 79 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 935 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family 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. Cantu 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 25% volume in TX
$16,553 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,147
Medicare services
Top 25% in TX for family medicine
861
Unique beneficiaries
$55
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~60 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 (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. |
238 | $60 | $135 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
174 | $123 | $250 |
| 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. |
169 | $89 | $160 |
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
157 | $2 | $20 |
| 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. |
120 | $10 | $30 |
| 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. |
56 | $9 | $80 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
46 | $1 | $20 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures. |
36 | $36 | $200 |
| Methylprednisolone acetate injection, 80 mg An injection of 80 mg of methylprednisolone acetate, a corticosteroid medication. |
30 | $7 | $40 |
| Annual depression screening | 27 | $18 | $25 |
| Annual wellness visit, initial visit A yearly appointment to review your health and create a personalized prevention plan. This initial visit focuses on preventive care and health assessment. |
19 | $158 | $250 |
| Initial preventive physical examination, new Medicare beneficiary A comprehensive preventive health visit for new Medicare beneficiaries during their first 12 months of enrollment. The service is conducted as a face-to-face visit and is limited to preventive care. |
18 | $158 | $250 |
| Blood glucose level test A test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood. |
16 | $4 | $30 |
| Respiratory virus detection test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and influenza viruses. |
15 | $53 | $160 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
13 | $14 | $55 |
| Transitional care management services, moderate complexity Services provided to coordinate care during the transition from an inpatient or other facility setting back to the community. This includes follow-up and management of a health problem of at least moderate complexity. |
13 | $152 | $240 |
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 ↗$16,553
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,365/year across 7 years
Top 2% in TX for family medicine
79
Companies
935
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
$16,542 (99.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$11 (0.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,834
2023
$2,342
2022
$2,444
2021
$2,467
2020
$1,849
2019
$2,164
2018
$2,452
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Abbott Laboratories
$1,760
Novo Nordisk Inc
$1,231
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$1,029
Lilly USA, LLC
$999
Amgen Inc.
$976
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$877
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$808
PFIZER INC.
$573
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$533
AbbVie Inc.
$501
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$475
OptiNose US, Inc.
$458
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$447
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$425
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$424
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$351
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$321
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$318
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$289
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$255
Bausch Health US, LLC
$245
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$226
Shire North American Group Inc
$214
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$209
Eisai Inc.
$203
ABBVIE INC.
$182
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$131
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$115
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$115
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$106
Dexcom, Inc.
$104
Optinose US, Inc.
$96
AbbVie, Inc.
$95
Allergan, Inc.
$91
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$85
Radius Health, Inc.
$80
TISSUETECH, INC.
$73
INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
$73
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$60
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS INC
$55
SANOFI PASTEUR INC.
$51
Shield Therapeutics Inc
$51
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$50
Genentech USA, Inc.
$48
Ironshore Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$41
Corcept Therapeutics
$41
Seqirus USA Inc
$37
Hologic, LLC
$34
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$31
Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$31
Clarus Therapeutics Inc.
$30
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$29
Exact Sciences Corporation
$28
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$26
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$26
Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.
$26
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$22
Dynavax Technologies Corporation
$21
Medtronic, Inc.
$20
Tris Pharma Inc
$19
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$19
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$18
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$16
VIVUS, Inc.
$16
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$16
Corium, LLC
$16
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
EISAI INC.
$15
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
$15
Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$15
Gemini Laboratories, LLC
$15
Stryker Corporation
$14
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$14
Phadia US Inc.
$14
Nuvectra Corporation
$13
Duchesnay USA Incorporated
$13
Boston Scientific Corporation
$12
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$11
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 24.3% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCRUFER · ADACEL · ADVAIR · AIRSUPRA · AJOVY · ANORO · ANORO ELLIPTA · APLENZIN · AQUABEAM SYSTEM · AREXVY · AZSTARYS · Aimovig · AirDuo Digihaler · Algovita · Amitiza · Androgel · Auvelity · BELSOMRA · BEXSERO · BREO · BREZTRI · BYDUREON · CARDIOMEMS · CHANTIX · COLOGUARD · CONTRAVE · CREON · Cologuard Collection Kit · Confirm Rx · DUZALLO · Da Vinci Surgical System · Dayvigo · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · Dyanavel XR · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTELLUS - XPRESS ENT DILATION SYSTEM · ENTRESTO · ETERNA · EVENITY · EVUSHELD · Evoke · FARXIGA · FLUBLOK QUADRIVALENT NORTHERN HEMISPHERE · FLUZONE QUADRIVALENT · FREESTYLE LIBRE · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · Fluad · Flucelvax · FreeStyle Libre · FreeStyle Libre 2 · GARDASIL · GARDASIL 9 · GEMTESA · HUMIRA · Heplisav-B · INSPIRE · INTRAROSA · INVOKANA · ImmunoCAP · Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation System · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · JATENZO · Jornay PM 20mg capsules (Bottle of 100) · Kerendia · Korlym · LINZESS · LO LOESTRIN FE · LYRICA · Livalo · M-M-R II · MOUNJARO · MYDAYIS · MYRBETRIQ · NEXLETOL · NOCDURNA · NURTEC ODT · NUZYRA · Natesto · ONZETRA Xsail · OTREXUP · Osphena · Otezla · Otovel · Ozempic · PNEUMOVAX 23 · PRALUENT · PREMARIN · PREVNAR - 13 · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · PROCLAIM · Proclaim IPG · Prolia · QSYMIA · QULIPTA · QUVIVIQ · QVAR · ROTATEQ · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SPIRIVA RESPIMAT · STEGLATRO · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SYMBICORT · SYNTHROID · Saxenda · Synthroid · TOUJEO · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · ThinPrep · Tlando · Trintellix · Tymlos · UBRELVY · UNITHROID · VOQUEZNA · VRAYLAR · VYVANSE · Vascepa · VenaSeal · Veozah · Victoza · WATCHMAN · WELLBUTRIN · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Xhance · Xofluza · Yupelri
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 (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 2% for family medicine in TX.
Equivalent to $1,443 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
1,306
Per 100K population
151.9
County median income
$113,409
Nearest hospital
HOUSTON METHODIST SUGARLAND HOSPITAL
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. Cantu is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 25% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 2% 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. Cantu experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Cantu performed 238 office visit, established patient (20-29 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. Cantu receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Cantu received a total of $16,553 from 79 companies across 935 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. Cantu's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Sugar Land?
Dr. Cantu's average Medicare payment per service is $55. 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. Cantu) 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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