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Data Sources: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data
Disclaimer: This site is an independent journalism project. Data analysis and editorial content are not affiliated with or endorsed by CMS or any government agency. All spending figures are based on publicly available Medicare payment records.
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Methodology•Download Data
  1. Home
  2. Providers
  3. Russell Branum
⚕️
MDIndividual

Russell Branum, MD

NPI: 1629065685
Fort Smith, AR
10 years of data
Rheumatology
$28.1M
Total Payments
457
Beneficiaries
1.6M
Services
2.49x
Markup Ratio

Peer Comparison

99th
percentile in specialty
This provider$28.1M
Specialty median$352.6K

📋 Key Findings

1Billed $28.1M over 10 years
22.49x markup ratio (above median)
399th percentile in Rheumatology by payments
4623 services/day — physically implausible
510 procedures with >3x markup

⚠️ This provider averages 623 services per working day — physically unusual for an individual practitioner

Based on 1.6M total services over 10 years (250 working days/year). Learn about impossible service volumes →

🔎 Data Analysis

This provider's $28.1M in total Medicare payments ranks in the 99th percentile of Rheumatology providers nationally.

Averaging 623 services per working day raises questions about billing patterns.

Medicare payments to this provider grew 116% from 2014 to 2023.

AI-generated analysis based on Medicare payment data.

Annual Medicare Payments

Annual Services Provided

Avg Payment per Service

Markup Ratio Over Time

Submitted Charges vs. Medicare Payments

Average per-service amounts submitted by the provider compared to what Medicare actually paid — the gap represents the markup.

YearAvg SubmittedAvg PaidMarkup RatioGap per ServiceTotal PaymentsServicesBeneficiaries
2014$80.44$26.972.98x$53.47$1.4M52.3K47
2015$78.37$30.362.58x$48.01$2.1M69.4K44
2016$52.06$21.192.46x$30.87$2.4M113.6K45
2017$42.00$18.382.29x$23.62$2.9M158.0K45
2018$53.10$24.122.20x$28.98$3.3M135.1K47
2019$47.90$21.022.28x$26.88$3.2M153.3K44
2020$43.40$18.472.35x$24.93$3.2M170.9K47
2021$39.02$15.472.52x$23.55$3.4M217.9K45
2022$35.64$13.012.74x$22.63$3.2M244.9K49
2023$34.72$12.612.75x$22.11$3.1M242.0K44

Top Procedures (20)

J0129Injection, abatacept, 10 mg (code may be used for medicare when drug administered under the direct supervision of a physician, not for use when drug is self administered)
$6.3M
180.9K services$34.75/svc1.70x markup
J1745Injection, infliximab, excludes biosimilar, 10 mg
$4.5M
84.2K services$52.90/svc2.17x markup
J1602Injection, golimumab, 1 mg, for intravenous use
$3.2M
222.5K services$14.57/svc2.75x markup
J0717Injection, certolizumab pegol, 1 mg (code may be used for medicare when drug administered under the direct supervision of a physician, not for use when drug is self administered)
$2.4M
441.2K services$5.49/svc2.19x markup
J9312Injection, rituximab, 10 mg
$2.2M
32.0K services$68.67/svc1.45x markup
J0897Injection, denosumab, 1 mg
$1.8M
120.6K services$14.62/svc1.71x markup
99214Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-39 minutes⚠ 3.0x markup
$1.5M
19.6K services$74.25/svc3.04x markup
J9310Injection, rituximab, 100 mg
$1.3M
2.0K services$644.47/svc1.55x markup
J3262Injection, tocilizumab, 1 mg
$966.7K
233.9K services$4.13/svc2.42x markup
96413Administration of chemotherapy into vein, 1 hour or less⚠ 5.6x markup
$652.7K
7.0K services$93.01/svc5.61x markup
86235Measurement of antibody for assessment of autoimmune disorder, any method⚠ 5.5x markup
$319.6K
15.8K services$20.20/svc5.54x markup
80053Blood test, comprehensive group of blood chemicals⚠ 10.4x markup
$286.3K
24.5K services$11.68/svc10.45x markup
96401Administration of non-hormonal anti-neoplastic chemotherapy under skin or into muscle⚠ 3.3x markup
$274.4K
5.2K services$53.06/svc3.30x markup
85025Complete blood cell count (red cells, white blood cell, platelets), automated test and automated differential white blood cell count⚠ 4.6x markup
$215.1K
24.9K services$8.65/svc4.63x markup
76881Complete ultrasound scan of joint⚠ 5.4x markup
$200.9K
5.8K services$34.56/svc5.38x markup
86481Tuberculosis test, enumeration of t-cells
$149.8K
1.6K services$96.55/svc1.81x markup
82306Vitamin d-3 level⚠ 4.0x markup
$135.5K
4.0K services$33.71/svc4.00x markup
86140Measurement c-reactive protein for detection of infection or inflammation⚠ 8.7x markup
$132.3K
23.0K services$5.76/svc8.69x markup
99204New patient office or other outpatient visit, 45-59 minutes⚠ 3.2x markup
$118.9K
1.1K services$107.43/svc3.24x markup
80307Testing for presence of drug, by chemistry analyzers
$112.6K
1.7K services$67.44/svc2.67x markup
Show detailed table ▾
CodeDescriptionServicesPaymentsAvg/ServiceMarkup
J0129Injection, abatacept, 10 mg (code may be used for medicare when drug administered under the direct supervision of a physician, not for use when drug is self administered)180.9K$6.3M$34.751.70x
J1745Injection, infliximab, excludes biosimilar, 10 mg84.2K$4.5M$52.902.17x
J1602Injection, golimumab, 1 mg, for intravenous use222.5K$3.2M$14.572.75x
J0717Injection, certolizumab pegol, 1 mg (code may be used for medicare when drug administered under the direct supervision of a physician, not for use when drug is self administered)441.2K$2.4M$5.492.19x
J9312Injection, rituximab, 10 mg32.0K$2.2M$68.671.45x
J0897Injection, denosumab, 1 mg120.6K$1.8M$14.621.71x
99214Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-39 minutes19.6K$1.5M$74.253.04x
J9310Injection, rituximab, 100 mg2.0K$1.3M$644.471.55x
J3262Injection, tocilizumab, 1 mg233.9K$966.7K$4.132.42x
96413Administration of chemotherapy into vein, 1 hour or less7.0K$652.7K$93.015.61x
86235Measurement of antibody for assessment of autoimmune disorder, any method15.8K$319.6K$20.205.54x
80053Blood test, comprehensive group of blood chemicals24.5K$286.3K$11.6810.45x
96401Administration of non-hormonal anti-neoplastic chemotherapy under skin or into muscle5.2K$274.4K$53.063.30x
85025Complete blood cell count (red cells, white blood cell, platelets), automated test and automated differential white blood cell count24.9K$215.1K$8.654.63x
76881Complete ultrasound scan of joint5.8K$200.9K$34.565.38x
86481Tuberculosis test, enumeration of t-cells1.6K$149.8K$96.551.81x
82306Vitamin d-3 level4.0K$135.5K$33.714.00x
86140Measurement c-reactive protein for detection of infection or inflammation23.0K$132.3K$5.768.69x
99204New patient office or other outpatient visit, 45-59 minutes1.1K$118.9K$107.433.24x
80307Testing for presence of drug, by chemistry analyzers1.7K$112.6K$67.442.67x

Markup Analysis

Charge-to-Payment Ratio

2.49x

This provider submits charges 2.49 times higher than what Medicare actually pays.

What This Means

A markup ratio of 2.49x means for every $100 Medicare pays, this provider initially charges $249. This is higher than the national average.

Location

Fort Smith, AR

Provider Verification

Always verify provider credentials and location before scheduling appointments. This data reflects Medicare payments and may not include all practice locations.

Similar Providers

Other Rheumatology providers in AR for peer comparison.

Russell Branum (you)
$28.1M
Richard Houk, M.D.
$52.6M
Show detailed table ▾
ProviderLocationTotal PaymentsStatus
Richard Houk, M.D.Little Rock, AR$52.6M✓ Clear

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Data Sources

  • • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
  • • Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data (2014-2023)
  • • National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES)

Last Updated: February 2026 (data through 2023, the latest CMS release)

Note: All data is from publicly available Medicare records. OpenMedicare is an independent journalism project not affiliated with CMS.

Believe this data is inaccurate? Dispute this data