Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Joel Sears, M.D.
Dermatology · Spokane Valley, WA
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. Sears 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. Sears
Dr. Joel Sears is a dermatology specialist in Spokane Valley, WA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sears performed 2,054 Medicare services across 1,397 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sears received a total of $1,791 from 24 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 86 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in dermatology. 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. Sears 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 48% volume in WA
$1,791 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,054
Medicare services
Top 48% in WA for dermatology
1,397
Unique beneficiaries
$164
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~103 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
375 | $5 | $15 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks This procedure involves the removal of a growth from the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. The removed tissue is then examined under a microscope in the laboratory. |
306 | $403 | $1,383 |
| 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. |
257 | $60 | $184 |
| Tissue pathology examination, moderate complexity A laboratory test where a pathologist examines tissue samples under a microscope to analyze cellular details. This intermediate complexity procedure involves specialized techniques to identify abnormalities in the tissue. |
178 | $52 | $165 |
| Removal and microscopic exam of growth of head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals, each additional stage, 1-5 tissue blocks | 155 | $323 | $842 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
131 | $33 | $163 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
120 | $62 | $214 |
| Complicated wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound measuring between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters on areas such as the face, neck, hands, or feet. |
80 | $181 | $1,000 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
56 | $38 | $225 |
| Complicated wound repair, scalp/arms/legs, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
44 | $198 | $872 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks A procedure to remove a growth from the trunk, arms, or legs and send 1 to 5 tissue samples to a laboratory for microscopic examination. |
44 | $398 | $1,299 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
33 | $69 | $234 |
| Skin graft repair, 10.1-30 sq cm A surgical procedure to repair wounds on the forehead, cheeks, chin, mouth, neck, underarms, genitals, hands, or feet by transferring skin. The graft covers an area between 10.1 and 30.0 square centimeters. |
32 | $589 | $1,871 |
| Skin graft repair, 30.1-60.0 sq cm A surgical procedure to repair a wound by transferring skin from one area to another. This code applies to grafts covering an area between 30.1 and 60.0 square centimeters. |
32 | $678 | $2,204 |
| 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. |
30 | $99 | $262 |
| 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. |
29 | $65 | $226 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
23 | $1 | $5 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
21 | $33 | $115 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
21 | $49 | $203 |
| Skin graft repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip, 10.1-30 sq cm This procedure involves repairing a wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip by transferring skin from another area. The graft size covered is between 10.1 and 30.0 square centimeters. |
20 | $607 | $2,016 |
| Full thickness skin graft to nose, ears, eyelids, or lips, 20 sq cm or less A surgical procedure where a full layer of skin is taken from a donor site and transplanted to the nose, ears, eyelids, or lips. The graft covers an area of 20 square centimeters or less. |
16 | $647 | $2,027 |
| Complex repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip wound, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to repair a complex wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. |
14 | $193 | $1,036 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 1.1-2.0 cm Surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters on the body, arms, or legs. |
13 | $111 | $508 |
| Skin graft repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip, 10 sq cm or less A surgical procedure to repair a wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip by transferring a small piece of skin. The transferred skin covers an area of 10 square centimeters or less. |
12 | $256 | $1,556 |
| Additional Mohs surgery stage with microscopic exam This procedure involves the removal and microscopic examination of an additional stage of tissue from the trunk, arms, or legs. It is performed in stages to ensure complete removal of the growth. |
12 | $281 | $806 |
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.
0.6% high complexity
11.7% medium
87.7% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$1,791
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $256/year across 7 years
Top 41% in WA for dermatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
24
Companies
86
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
$1,641 (91.6%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$150 (8.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$20
2023
$346
2022
$225
2021
$303
2020
$312
2019
$277
2018
$307
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$20
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Genentech USA, Inc.
$206
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$188
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$152
AbbVie, Inc.
$149
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$142
AbbVie Inc.
$141
Lilly USA, LLC
$129
UCB, Inc.
$128
ABBVIE INC.
$65
Amgen Inc.
$59
GENZYME CORPORATION
$56
PFIZER INC.
$54
Allergan Inc.
$44
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$43
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$38
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$35
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$34
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$23
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$21
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$21
Allergan, Inc.
$20
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
$18
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$12
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 30.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
BOTOX · BOTOX COSMETIC · COSENTYX · Cimzia · DUPIXENT · EUCRISA · Enbrel · Erivedge · GRAFIX PL · Humira · ILUMYA · Ilumya · LEVULAN KERASTICK · LIBTAYO · Otezla · REMICADE · Rituxan · SILIQ · SKYRIZI · SPEVIGO · Skyrizi · TALTZ · TREMFYA · VALCHLOR · Winlevi · XOLAIR · XTRAC
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 (92%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Dermatologists within 10 mi
24
Per 100K population
4.4
County median income
$73,513
Nearest hospital
MULTICARE VALLEY HOSPITAL
4.5 mi
4.5 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. Sears is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Sears experienced with destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sears performed 375 destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 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. Sears receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sears received a total of $1,791 from 24 companies across 86 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. Sears's costs compare to other dermatologists in Spokane Valley?
Dr. Sears's average Medicare payment per service is $164. 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. Sears) 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.
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