Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Varun Rachakonda
Radiation Oncology · Sugar Land, 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. Rachakonda 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 →
Are you Dr. Rachakonda?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Rachakonda
Dr. Varun Rachakonda is a radiation oncology specialist in Sugar Land, TX, with 12 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Rachakonda performed 2,737 Medicare services across 2,360 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Rachakonda received a total of $7,840 from 18 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 124 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in radiation oncology. 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. Rachakonda 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.
✓ 12 years in practice
▲ Top 38% volume in TX
$7,840 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,737
Medicare services
Top 38% in TX for radiation oncology
2,360
Unique beneficiaries
$35
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~228 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the chest taken from a single angle. This imaging test is used to visualize the structures within the chest cavity. |
848 | $7 | $30 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
160 | $64 | $436 |
| CT scan of head/brain, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the head or brain without the use of contrast dye. |
157 | $31 | $132 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
93 | $15 | $60 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the abdomen taken from a single angle to visualize internal structures. |
80 | $7 | $30 |
| Abdominal fluid drainage with imaging guidance Removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity using imaging technology to guide the procedure. |
78 | $89 | $350 |
| Chest fluid aspiration with imaging guidance This procedure involves removing fluid from the chest cavity using imaging technology to guide the needle placement. |
77 | $87 | $400 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
76 | $8 | $36 |
| CT scan of chest, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest area that uses X-rays to create detailed images without the use of contrast dye. |
72 | $40 | $180 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
54 | $12 | $48 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
52 | $10 | $40 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
51 | $25 | $106 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
50 | $6 | $29 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the organs and structures within the abdomen. |
47 | $27 | $125 |
| 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. |
46 | $63 | $432 |
| Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter for infusion, age 5+ A surgical procedure to place a long-term catheter into a large vein for delivering medications or fluids. The catheter is tunneled under the skin to reduce infection risk and provide stable access for patients aged 5 and older. |
40 | $202 | $866 |
| CT scan of chest blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the chest. |
40 | $66 | $295 |
| Complete ultrasound of retroperitoneum An ultrasound examination of the structures located behind the abdominal cavity. |
38 | $27 | $115 |
| CT scan of upper spine, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the upper spine. This procedure is performed without the use of contrast dye. |
32 | $34 | $181 |
| Limited ultrasound of joint or extremity A focused ultrasound exam of a specific joint or other structure in the arm or leg, excluding blood vessels. |
32 | $21 | $61 |
| 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. |
30 | $10 | $33 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
29 | $6 | $28 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis using contrast dye before and after administration to visualize internal structures. |
27 | $70 | $493 |
| Replacement of tunneled central venous tube This procedure involves replacing an existing tunneled central venous catheter with a new one. The new tube is inserted through the same tunnel under the skin to maintain vascular access. |
26 | $136 | $622 |
| Removal of tunneled central venous tube This procedure involves the removal of a catheter that has been surgically placed under the skin and threaded into a large vein. |
26 | $104 | $427 |
| Hemodialysis circuit intervention with balloon dilation A procedure to insert a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit and dilate the dialysis segment using a balloon, with radiological review. |
25 | $171 | $706 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
25 | $46 | $190 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
25 | $15 | $69 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
22 | $6 | $27 |
| Balloon dilation of dialysis access with radiologist review A minimally invasive procedure to widen a narrowed section of a dialysis access vessel using a balloon catheter. The procedure includes review by a radiologist to ensure proper placement and effectiveness. |
21 | $120 | $406 |
| MRI scan of brain, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging test of the brain that does not use contrast dye. This procedure creates detailed images of the brain's structure using magnetic fields and radio waves. |
21 | $57 | $231 |
| Limited abdominal ultrasound A focused ultrasound examination of the abdomen to evaluate specific organs or areas. This procedure uses sound waves to create images of internal structures. |
21 | $24 | $92 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
21 | $26 | $105 |
| CT scan of lower spine, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the lower spine using X-rays without the use of contrast dye. |
19 | $35 | $164 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
19 | $9 | $34 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
18 | $6 | $26 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
18 | $28 | $90 |
| Initial hospital admission, low complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving straightforward or low-level medical decision making, with at least 40 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
18 | $70 | $150 |
| Insertion of non-tunneled central venous catheter A procedure to place a central venous catheter for infusion in patients aged 5 years or older. The catheter is inserted directly into a large vein without being tunneled under the skin. |
17 | $70 | $369 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
17 | $6 | $27 |
| Hemodialysis circuit clot removal and vessel dilation This procedure involves removing or dissolving a blood clot within the hemodialysis circuit and using a balloon to widen the dialysis access segment, with imaging review by a radiologist. |
16 | $341 | $1,394 |
| Knee X-ray, 4 or more views An imaging test using X-rays to create multiple pictures of the knee joint from different angles. |
15 | $8 | $35 |
| X-ray of lower leg, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower leg using two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
15 | $6 | $27 |
| Swallowing function imaging Imaging used to evaluate how well a person can swallow. This procedure visualizes the swallowing process to assess function. |
15 | $19 | $83 |
| CT scan of abdominal and pelvic blood vessels with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to visualize the blood vessels in the abdomen and pelvis. |
14 | $89 | $575 |
| Radiologist review of CT-guided needle placement A radiologist reviews the CT imaging used to guide the placement of a needle. |
13 | $60 | $180 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
13 | $24 | $94 |
| X-ray of both hips, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that captures two views of both hip joints to evaluate bone structure and alignment. |
12 | $7 | $35 |
| CT scan of abdominal aorta and leg arteries with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the abdominal aorta and the arteries in both legs. |
12 | $88 | $379 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
11 | $40 | $213 |
| Needle or tube insertion into hemodialysis circuit with radiologist review A procedure involving the insertion of a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit, accompanied by a review of the procedure by a radiologist. |
11 | $122 | $474 |
| Pelvis X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the pelvic area using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
11 | $7 | $27 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
11 | $23 | $84 |
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.
3.0% high complexity
43.8% medium
53.2% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,840
Total received (2019-2024)
Avg $1,307/year across 6 years
Top 8% in TX for radiation oncology
18
Companies
124
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
$6,353 (81.0%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,487 (19.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,508
2023
$2,560
2022
$1,794
2021
$755
2020
$620
2019
$602
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Inari Medical, Inc.
$4,727
Penumbra, Inc.
$697
Terumo Medical Corporation
$444
Sirtex Medical Inc
$390
Boston Scientific Corporation
$309
Medtronic, Inc.
$308
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$298
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$198
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$186
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$70
Ethicon US, LLC
$49
Balt USA, LLC
$35
Abbott Laboratories
$34
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$25
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$19
Cook Medical LLC
$18
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$18
ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 74.9% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABRE · AZUR · CONCERTOTM · CT THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM KIT · Cryocare CS · DIAMONDBACK PERIPHERAL · Diamondback Peripheral · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin · Indigo · Indigo System · NEUWAVE Flex Microwave Ablation System · Navicross · Neuwave · Optitorque · POD · Penumbra Ruby Coil · Prestige Coil System · Retrieval Kit · Ruby · S · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · SIR-Spheres Microspheres · SPIDERFX · THERASPHERE · TR Band · TheraSphere Administration Set · VENASEAL · Varian CRYOCARE TOUCH System · XIFAXAN · ZILVER PTX
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 (81%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for radiation oncology in TX.
Equivalent to $286 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Radiation oncologists within 10 mi
708
Per 100K population
82.4
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. Rachakonda is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 8% of TX peers.
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. Rachakonda experienced with chest x-ray, 1 view?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Rachakonda performed 848 chest x-ray, 1 view 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. Rachakonda receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Rachakonda received a total of $7,840 from 18 companies across 124 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. Rachakonda's costs compare to other radiation oncologists in Sugar Land?
Dr. Rachakonda's average Medicare payment per service is $35. 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. Rachakonda) 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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