Balchander Rao, MD
NPI 1710026158 · Pulmonary Disease Physician · Houston, TX
Enrolled with Medicare as Practitioner - Internal Medicine · source: CMS PECOS Public Provider Enrollment (2026.04.01)
Balchander Rao, MD is a Pulmonary Disease Physician provider in Houston, TX (NPI 1710026158).
Provider details
- NPI number
- 1710026158
- Entity type
- Individual
- Primary specialty
- Pulmonary Disease PhysicianAllopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
- Credential
- MD
- Sex
- Male
- Sole proprietor
- Yes
- License
- E9350 (TX)
Specialties & taxonomies
Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
Profile Score
A profile completeness & documented-activity index — NOT a quality, outcomes, or patient-satisfaction rating.
- Registry tenure25% of score
19 yrs in NPPES registry
- Profile completeness25% of score
100% of core fields populated
- Practice footprint15% of score
1 documented practice location
- Medicare service volume (vs. specialty peers)25% of score
251 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Subsequent Hospital Care With Moderate Levelof Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, at Least 35 Minutes99232 | 226 | $79 |
| Initial Hospital Care With Straightforward Or Low Level of Medical Decision Making, Per Day, If Using Time, at Least 40 Minutes99221 | 25 | $84 |
Typical Medicare-allowed amounts for these services range $79–$84 (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.
What this provider prescribes (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by Medicare Part D claim volume, 2024 · 9 distinct drugs on file.
| Drug | Part D claims (2024) | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| Albuterol Sulfatebrand: Albuterol Sulfate Hfa | 47 | 15 |
| Fluticasone/Umeclidin/Vilanterbrand: Trelegy Ellipta | 36 | 13 |
| Prednisone | 32 | — |
| Alprazolam | 19 | — |
| Amoxicillin/Potassium Clavbrand: Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Potass | 14 | — |
| Ipratropium/Albuterol Sulfatebrand: Combivent Respimat | 12 | — |
Transparency — industry payments
Based on CMS Open Payments, 2024; not all care is captured.
$34 across 2 records (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
Registry dates
- Enumerated
- 2007-02-05
- Last updated
- 2020-09-30
- Certified
- 2020-09-30
Frequently asked questions
- What is Balchander Rao's NPI number?
- Balchander Rao's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1710026158, a unique 10-digit ID issued by CMS for use in standard healthcare transactions.
- What is Balchander Rao's specialty?
- Balchander Rao is listed in the NPPES registry with a primary specialty of Pulmonary Disease Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians).
- Where is Balchander Rao located?
- Balchander Rao's practice location on file with NPPES is 1631 North Loop West, Houston, TX 77008.
- What is Balchander Rao's phone number?
- The practice phone number listed in the NPPES registry for Balchander Rao is (713) 861-8884.
- Does Balchander Rao accept Medicare?
- Balchander Rao is approved to bill Medicare according to CMS PECOS enrollment data (2026.04.01). Confirm current participation with the provider before scheduling.
- Is Balchander Rao's NPI active?
- Yes — Balchander Rao's NPI (1710026158) is active in the NPPES registry as of the last update on 2020-09-30.
Source: CMS NPPES Data Dissemination (June 2026). NPI Central is not affiliated with CMS. Data is provided as-is from the public registry.