Melania Poonacha, MD
NPI 1497074108 · Hospitalist Physician · Palo Alto, CA
Enrolled with Medicare as Practitioner - Pediatric Medicine · source: CMS PECOS Public Provider Enrollment (2026.04.01)
Melania Poonacha, MD is a Hospitalist Physician provider in Palo Alto, CA (NPI 1497074108).
Provider details
- NPI number
- 1497074108
- Entity type
- Individual
- Primary specialty
- Hospitalist PhysicianAllopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
- Credential
- MD
- Sex
- Female
- Sole proprietor
- No
- License
- 130281 (CA)
Specialties & taxonomies
Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
Profile Score
A profile completeness & documented-activity index — NOT a quality, outcomes, or patient-satisfaction rating.
- Registry tenure25% of score
16 yrs in NPPES registry
- Profile completeness25% of score
100% of core fields populated
- Practice footprint15% of score
2 documented practice locations
- Medicare service volume (vs. specialty peers)25% of score
203 Medicare services, 2024 (ranked within specialty)
- Open Payments transparency10% of score
Has Open Payments disclosures (2024)
Medicare volume is ranked against active providers in the same specialty. Signals a provider has no public data for (e.g. Medicare claims) are left out of the score entirely — never counted as zero — so providers without that data are not penalized. See the full formula and weights in our .
What this provider does (Medicare)
Based on Medicare fee-for-service claims, 2024; not all care is captured.
| Service (HCPCS) | Medicare services | Typical Medicare-allowed (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Hospital Care With Moderate Level of Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, at Least 75 Minutes99223 | 146 | $184 |
| Subsequent Hospital Care With Moderate Levelof Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, at Least 50 Minutes99233 | 34 | $125 |
| Subsequent Hospital Care With Moderate Levelof Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, at Least 35 Minutes99232 | 23 | $84 |
Typical Medicare-allowed amounts for these services range $84–$184 (2024). The Medicare-allowed amount is what Medicare recognizes for a service under fee-for-service — a reference figure for 2024, not a price quote and not what you would be billed. Medicare Part B covers roughly an eighth of all NPIs (65+ skew); services with fewer than 11 beneficiaries are suppressed by CMS. Source: CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners, by Provider & Service.
Transparency — industry payments
Based on CMS Open Payments, 2024; not all care is captured.
$129 across 1 record (Open Payments 2024)
Open Payments discloses payments and transfers of value (meals, travel, consulting, research, royalties) from drug and device makers to providers. This is a transparency signal, not a verdict — such payments are legal and common, and their presence is neither an endorsement nor a criticism. Source: CMS Open Payments, program year 2024.
Practice location
Mailing address
Additional practice locations (1)
- 1595 Soquel Dr Ste 400Santa Cruz, CA 95065-1724Phone: (831) 475-1111Fax: (831) 476-5020
Registry dates
- Enumerated
- 2010-05-19
- Last updated
- 2024-04-28
- Certified
- 2024-04-28
Frequently asked questions
- What is Melania Poonacha's NPI number?
- Melania Poonacha's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1497074108, a unique 10-digit ID issued by CMS for use in standard healthcare transactions.
- What is Melania Poonacha's specialty?
- Melania Poonacha is listed in the NPPES registry with a primary specialty of Hospitalist Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians).
- Where is Melania Poonacha located?
- Melania Poonacha's practice location on file with NPPES is 725 Welch Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1601.
- What is Melania Poonacha's phone number?
- The practice phone number listed in the NPPES registry for Melania Poonacha is (650) 497-8000.
- Does Melania Poonacha accept Medicare?
- Melania Poonacha is approved to bill Medicare according to CMS PECOS enrollment data (2026.04.01). Confirm current participation with the provider before scheduling.
- Is Melania Poonacha's NPI active?
- Yes — Melania Poonacha's NPI (1497074108) is active in the NPPES registry as of the last update on 2024-04-28.
Source: CMS NPPES Data Dissemination (June 2026). NPI Central is not affiliated with CMS. Data is provided as-is from the public registry.