Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Ryan Stern, MD

Otolaryngology · Federal Way, WA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
34612 6TH AVE S, Federal Way, WA 98003
2536612594
In practice since 2006 (19 years)
NPI: 1487754941 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. Stern 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. Stern

Dr. Ryan Stern is an otolaryngology specialist in Federal Way, WA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Stern performed 5,011 Medicare services across 1,414 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Stern received a total of $8,887 from 14 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 159 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in otolaryngology. 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. Stern 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.

✓ 19 years in practice ▲ Top 3% volume in WA $8,887 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
5,011
Medicare services
Top 3% in WA for otolaryngology
1,414
Unique beneficiaries
$79
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~264 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
Allergy immunotherapy preparation
A professional service involving the preparation and administration of one or more antigens.
2,402 $14 $20
Allergen extract preparation and provision
A professional service involving the preparation and provision of a single-dose vial of allergen extract.
420 $10 $13
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.
346 $101 $200
Impacted earwax removal by physician
Removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears by a physician on the same day as audiologic testing.
284 $38 $120
Middle ear function test
A diagnostic test used to evaluate how well the middle ear is functioning.
282 $14 $45
Comprehensive hearing and speech recognition test
A diagnostic evaluation that assesses hearing ability and the capacity to understand spoken words. The test measures how well a patient can detect sounds and recognize speech.
260 $30 $100
Endoscopic nasal polyp biopsy or removal
A procedure to remove or sample nasal polyps or tissue using an endoscope. The endoscope allows the provider to view the nasal passages during the procedure.
198 $346 $989
Allergy injection therapy, multiple injections
A professional service involving the administration of multiple allergen injections.
163 $11 $38
Nasal endoscopy
A diagnostic procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube to examine the inside of the nasal passages.
127 $170 $480
Allergen injection administration
Professional service for the administration of a single allergen injection.
72 $8 $28
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.
49 $125 $350
Nasal growth removal or destruction
This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a growth located in the nose using an approach through the nostrils.
47 $152 $2,850
Hearing test for various pitches
A hearing test that measures the ability to hear different sound frequencies using earphones.
47 $32 $50
Removal of nasal air passage under lining tissue
A surgical procedure to remove tissue from the nasal air passage located beneath the lining.
43 $114 $1,154
New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) 42 $150 $375
Nasal valve repair
A surgical procedure to correct a collapsed nasal valve, which is the narrowest part of the nasal airway. The surgery aims to widen the nasal passage to improve breathing.
32 $1,771 $4,500
Speech recognition test
A test to measure the ability to detect and repeat spoken words.
30 $40 $60
Endoscopic sinus dilation
A procedure that widens the nasal sinuses using an endoscope to improve drainage and airflow.
27 $2,096 $7,111
Computer-assisted neurosurgery outside brain covering
A surgical procedure using computer guidance to operate on areas outside the membrane covering the brain.
26 $139 $500
Flexible laryngoscopy
A diagnostic exam of the voice box using a flexible endoscope to visualize the larynx.
24 $118 $250
Balance testing with recording
A procedure to evaluate balance function by recording the results during testing.
18 $99 $210
Vestibular function test with thermal irrigation
A test that assesses balance by irrigating both ears with warm and cool fluids to evaluate inner ear function.
17 $36 $220
Vocal cord movement assessment with endoscope
This procedure uses an endoscope to examine the movement of the vocal cords. It allows for the visual assessment of how the vocal cord flaps function.
16 $174 $350
Auditory brainstem response test
A test that measures how the brain responds to sound to help diagnose nervous system disorders. The results are interpreted and reported by a medical professional.
15 $77 $300
Endoscopic dilation of sphenoid and frontal sinuses
A procedure using an endoscope to widen the sphenoid and frontal sinuses.
12 $4,363 $13,500
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.
12 $120 $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.
1.2% high complexity
11.2% medium
87.7% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$8,887
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,270/year across 7 years
Top 6% in WA for otolaryngology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
14
Companies
159
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
$8,887 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$1,575
2023
$1,584
2022
$1,362
2021
$530
2020
$1,323
2019
$1,771
2018
$742

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AERIN MEDICAL INC.
$628
Stryker Corporation
$509
Medtronic, Inc.
$422
Neurent Medical Limited
$16
Top 3 companies account for 99.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Intersect ENT, Inc.
$2,169
AERIN MEDICAL INC.
$1,836
Medtronic, Inc.
$1,416
Stryker Corporation
$1,191
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$1,028
Aerin Medical Inc.
$843
Arrinex, Inc.
$179
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$70
Boston Scientific Corporation
$57
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$23
180 Medical, Inc.
$21
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$20
ALK-Abello, Inc
$17
Neurent Medical Limited
$16
Top 3 companies account for 61.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AUDION ET DILATION SYSTEM · Advantage System · CIPRODEX · CLARIFIX · CURE ULTRA CATHETER · Clarifix · ENTELLUS - FOCESS HD WIRELESS CAMERA · ENTELLUS - XPRESS ENT DILATION SYSTEM · FUSION · NEUROMARK Device · NSE - NASOPORE/ OTOPORE · NUCALA · NUVENT · Odactra · PHOTONBLADE · PROPEL · SCOPIS ENT · SINUVA · SPIROX - LATERA · STEALTHSTATION S8 PLATFORM · VIVAER STYLUS · VivAer · Vivaer RF Stylus · XPRESS ENT DILATION 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. Total industry engagement is in the top 6% for otolaryngology in WA.

Looking for an otolaryngology specialist in Federal Way?
Compare otolaryngologists in the Federal Way area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse otolaryngologists nearby

Geographic Context

Otolaryngologists within 10 mi
144
Per 100K population
6.4
County median income
$122,148
Nearest hospital
ST FRANCIS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
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 reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →

Summary

Dr. Stern is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in WA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 6% of WA peers, with 19 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. Stern experienced with allergy immunotherapy preparation?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Stern performed 2,402 allergy immunotherapy preparation 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. Stern receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Stern received a total of $8,887 from 14 companies across 159 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. Stern's costs compare to other otolaryngologists in Federal Way?
Dr. Stern's average Medicare payment per service is $79. 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. Stern) 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 →
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.

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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 →