Medicare Enrolled

Dr. James Diestelhorst, M.D.

Pulmonary Disease · Bellingham, WA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology — Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
4545 CORDATA PKWY, Bellingham, WA 98226
3607382200
In practice since 2005 (21 years)
NPI: 1336148766 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Diestelhorst 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. Diestelhorst

Dr. James Diestelhorst is a pulmonary disease specialist in Bellingham, WA, with 21 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Diestelhorst performed 1,645 Medicare services across 1,300 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Diestelhorst received a total of $179 from 4 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 4 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pulmonary disease. 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. Diestelhorst is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.

✓ 21 years in practice ▲ Top 6% volume in WA $179 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
1,645
Medicare services
Top 6% in WA for pulmonary disease
1,300
Unique beneficiaries
$47
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~78 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
Pulmonary gas exchange test
A test to examine how well the lungs exchange gases.
 389 $34 $134
Airflow rate measurement test
A test that measures the rate of airflow. This procedure assesses how quickly air moves.
 261 $24 $91
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.
 260 $96 $346
Spirometry test before and after medication
A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed of your breathing before and after taking a medication.
 166 $23 $95
Lung volume test using sensors
A test that measures the amount of air in the lungs using sensors.
 151 $32 $112
Hemoglobin blood test
A blood test that measures the amount of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
 87 $2 $23
Overnight continuous oxygen level test
This test measures oxygen levels in the blood continuously overnight using a device attached to the ear or finger.
 84 $18 $74
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.
 76 $127 $445
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.
 66 $67 $243
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.
 44 $59 $187
Critical care, first 30-74 min
Emergency medical care for a critically ill or injured patient lasting between 30 and 74 minutes. This service involves direct patient care and medical decision making to stabilize the patient.
 34 $165 $739
Oxygen level test using ear or finger device
A test that measures the oxygen level in the blood using a device attached to the ear or finger. The measurement is taken multiple times.
 15 $3 $10
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.
 12 $59 $297
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 ↗
$179
Total received (2020-2024)
Avg $89/year across 2 years
Bottom 32% in WA for pulmonary disease
4
Companies
4
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
$179 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$39
2020
$140

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
GENZYME CORPORATION
$39
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2020-2024) ›
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$115
GENZYME CORPORATION
$39
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
Advanced Respiratory, Inc
$12
Top 3 companies account for 93.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
DUPIXENT · OFEV · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · The VitalCough System
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.

Looking for a pulmonary disease specialist in Bellingham?
Compare pulmonary diseases in the Bellingham area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse pulmonary diseases nearby

Geographic Context

Pulmonary diseases within 10 mi
4
Per 100K population
1.8
County median income
$80,989
Nearest hospital
ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL
4.3 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 reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →

Summary

Dr. Diestelhorst is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% in WA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 21 years of NPI registration.

This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Diestelhorst experienced with pulmonary gas exchange test?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Diestelhorst performed 389 pulmonary gas exchange test 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. Diestelhorst receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Diestelhorst received a total of $179 from 4 companies across 4 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. Diestelhorst's costs compare to other pulmonary diseases in Bellingham?
Dr. Diestelhorst's average Medicare payment per service is $47. 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. Diestelhorst) 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. Data Coverage reflects 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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →