Medicare Enrolled
Dr. David Kerns, MD
Surgery · Tyler, TX
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Mixed 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. Kerns 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. Kerns
Dr. David Kerns is a surgery specialist in Tyler, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kerns performed 3,416 Medicare services across 2,441 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kerns received a total of $13,511 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 173 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in surgery. Payments are distributed across multiple categories and often reflect legitimate professional engagement with the medical industry. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Kerns 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 2% volume in TX
$13,511 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,416
Medicare services
Top 2% in TX for surgery
2,441
Unique beneficiaries
$140
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~171 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. |
813 | $90 | $260 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
401 | $49 | $250 |
| 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. |
342 | $129 | $480 |
| 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. |
236 | $179 | $615 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to create images of the arteries in one leg or any grafts present in that leg. |
138 | $91 | $362 |
| Complete ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts A complete ultrasound exam of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. This imaging test uses sound waves to visualize these blood vessels. |
138 | $113 | $475 |
| Additional sedation, per 15 minutes Administration of a drug to deepen sedation during a procedure. This code covers each additional 15-minute increment of sedation beyond the initial period. |
124 | $8 | $30 |
| 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. |
124 | $125 | $260 |
| 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. |
82 | $134 | $470 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
69 | $45 | $150 |
| Wound tissue removal, 20 sq cm or less This procedure involves the removal of tissue from a wound area measuring 20 square centimeters or less. |
68 | $75 | $246 |
| 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. |
68 | $56 | $180 |
| 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. |
65 | $85 | $315 |
| Basic blood chemical test (calcium, ionized) A blood test that measures basic chemical levels, specifically including calcium and ionized calcium. |
59 | $13 | $50 |
| 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. |
57 | $38 | $130 |
| Ultrasound of hemodialysis access An ultrasound imaging test used to evaluate the blood flow and structure of a hemodialysis access site. |
55 | $94 | $385 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
54 | $133 | $495 |
| Arterial puncture or catheterization, arm or leg Insertion of a needle or tube into an artery in the arm or leg. This procedure is used to access the arterial system for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. |
49 | $193 | $1,278 |
| Radiologist review of additional artery image A radiologist reviews an additional image of an artery. This step involves professional interpretation of the imaging data. |
46 | $73 | $235 |
| Radiologist review of abdominal aorta image A radiologist reviews images of the abdominal aorta to evaluate the blood vessel. |
42 | $84 | $314 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
42 | $101 | $363 |
| Arterial catheter insertion, initial third order branch Insertion of a tube into an abdominal, pelvic, or leg artery, specifically targeting the initial third order branch. |
34 | $764 | $3,600 |
| 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. |
30 | $91 | $254 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
24 | $123 | $350 |
| 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. |
23 | $82 | $220 |
| Smoking cessation counseling, 4-10 minutes A brief counseling session focused on helping patients quit smoking and tobacco use. The provider spends 4 to 10 minutes discussing strategies and support for cessation. |
22 | $14 | $30 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 5-10 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 5 and 10 minutes to discuss medical matters. |
21 | $21 | $137 |
| Neck artery stent insertion with clot protection A procedure to place a stent in a neck artery to keep it open, using a device to protect against blood clots during the process. A radiologist reviews the procedure. |
20 | $727 | $2,515 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis blood flow This procedure uses sound waves to create images of blood flow in the arteries and veins of the abdomen and pelvis. It evaluates the rate and direction of blood movement within these vessels. |
20 | $202 | $675 |
| 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. |
20 | $61 | $200 |
| Arterial plaque removal in leg A procedure to remove plaque buildup from the arteries in the leg to restore blood flow. |
18 | $5,747 | $22,770 |
| 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. |
18 | $11 | $28 |
| Ultrasound-guided injection into multiple incompetent leg veins A procedure where a chemical agent is injected into several faulty veins in the same leg. Ultrasound guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
16 | $1,077 | $3,750 |
| Ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. It allows for the visualization of these blood vessels and any surgical grafts. |
16 | $72 | $300 |
| 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. |
14 | $100 | $338 |
| Arterial thrombectomy, chest, neck, or brain A procedure to remove a blood clot and part of an artery in the chest, neck, or brain. |
12 | $835 | $2,867 |
| Ultrasound of blood vessel, initial vessel An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review of the initial vessel. |
12 | $66 | $232 |
| Additional blood vessel ultrasound evaluation An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review. This code applies to each additional vessel evaluated beyond the initial one. |
12 | $53 | $185 |
| Limited retroperitoneal ultrasound A focused ultrasound exam of the area behind the abdominal cavity to evaluate specific structures. |
12 | $45 | $140 |
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.
7.5% high complexity
43.3% medium
49.2% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$13,511
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,930/year across 7 years
Top 22% in TX for surgery
33
Companies
173
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.
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$7,858 (58.2%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$5,653 (41.8%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,112
2023
$2,511
2022
$6,074
2021
$735
2020
$358
2019
$1,201
2018
$519
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$7,858
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$2,130
Silk Road Medical, Inc.
$1,314
Inari Medical, Inc.
$447
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$327
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$268
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$201
Ethicon US, LLC
$158
MY01 Inc.
$143
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
$83
Boston Scientific Corporation
$82
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$73
Teleflex LLC
$44
Surmodics, Inc.
$29
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$27
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$26
KCI USA, Inc.
$25
Avinger Inc.
$24
Covidien LP
$23
Davol Inc.
$23
Biom'Up SA
$20
Stryker Corporation
$20
Abbott Laboratories
$18
Endologix LLC
$18
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$18
Admedus Corporation
$17
DAVOL INC.
$16
PolyNovo North America LLC
$15
Misonix Inc
$14
Cook Medical LLC
$14
Maquet Cardiovascular U.S. Sales, L.L.C.
$13
Smith & Nephew, Inc.
$12
Osiris Therapeutics Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 83.7% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AFX2 Bifurcated Endograft System · ANGIOJET · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · Auryon Laser System 100-120 Vac · C3 Delivery System · DERMATAC · DIAMONDBACK PERIPHERAL · Da Vinci Surgical System · Diamondback Peripheral · ELIQUIS · ENROUTE .014 Guidewire · ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System · ENROUTE Transcarotid Stent · EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis · EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Endoprosthesis with Active Control · EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis · Echelon Flex · FLIXENE · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GORE EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis · GORE EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis · GORE PROPATEN Vascular Graft · GORE TAG Conformable Thoracic Endoprosthesis · GORE TAG Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft · GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis · GORE VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endo · GRAFIX · GRAFIX PL · Hemoblast · LUTONIX Drug Coated Balloon · Ligation: Hem-o-lok Polymer Locking Ligation System · MAKO · MANTA Vascular Closure Device · MY01 Continuous Compartmental Pressure Monitor · Megadyne · NOVOSORB BTM · PANTHERIS · Parietene · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Phasix Mesh · REGRANEX · RotarexS 6 F x 135 cm · S · Santyl · Shockwave IVL System with the Shockwave C2 Coronary IVL Catheter · Stravix · Sublime 014 Rx PTA Balloon Dilatation Catheter · TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis · VENTRALIGHT · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with PROPATEN Bioactive Surface · Varithena Administration Pack · VenaCure 1470 Pro · XARELTO · 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 →
Payments are distributed across multiple categories with no single dominant type.
Equivalent to $396 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Surgerists within 10 mi
30
Per 100K population
12.6
County median income
$71,923
Nearest hospital
UT HEALTH EAST TEXAS TYLER REGIONAL 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. Kerns is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in TX), with mixed engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Kerns experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kerns performed 813 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. Kerns receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kerns received a total of $13,511 from 33 companies across 173 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. Kerns's costs compare to other surgerists in Tyler?
Dr. Kerns's average Medicare payment per service is $140. 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. Kerns) 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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