Ray Chihara, M.D.
NPI 1740438928 · Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician · Houston, TX
Enrolled with Medicare as Practitioner - Thoracic Surgery · source: CMS PECOS Public Provider Enrollment (2026.04.01)
Ray Chihara, M.D. is a Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician provider in Houston, TX (NPI 1740438928).
Provider details
- NPI number
- 1740438928
- Entity type
- Individual
- Primary specialty
- Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) PhysicianAllopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
- Credential
- M.D.
- Sex
- Male
- Sole proprietor
- No
- License
- R7967 (TX)
Specialties & taxonomies
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
17 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
533 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 | 170 | $78 |
| Established Patient Office Or Other Outpatient Visit With Moderate Level of Decision Making, If Using Time, 30 Minutes Or More99214 | 113 | $128 |
| Initial Hospital Care With Straightforward Or Low-Level Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, at Least 55 Minutes99222 | 72 | $131 |
| New Patient Office Or Other Outpatient Visit With Moderate Level of Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, 45 Minutes Or More99204 | 66 | $169 |
| Established Patient Office Or Other Outpatient Visit With Low Level OD Decision Making, If Using Time, 20 Minutes Or More99213 | 36 | $89 |
| Removal of Lymph Nodes of Chest Cavity Using an Endoscope |
What this provider prescribes (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by Medicare Part D claim volume, 2024 · 2 distinct drugs on file.
| Drug | Part D claims (2024) | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| Tramadol Hcl | 15 | 15 |
| Oxycodone Hcl | 13 | — |
Medicare Part D only. These counts cover prescriptions paid through Medicare Part D in 2024 — they do notinclude cash-pay, commercial-insurance, Medicaid, or Part B–administered drugs, and badly undercount high cash-pay categories (e.g. GLP-1 weight-loss, testosterone, and ED medications). Any drug with 10 or fewer claims is omitted by CMS, and beneficiary counts under 11 are suppressed — so a missing drug means no Part D record, never zero. This is a factual claims summary, not an endorsement, not medical advice, and not a consumer report. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers — by Provider and Drug.
Transparency — industry payments
Based on CMS Open Payments, 2024; not all care is captured.
$1,004 across 12 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
- 2008-08-31
- Last updated
- 2018-08-16
Frequently asked questions
- What is Ray Chihara's NPI number?
- Ray Chihara's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1740438928, a unique 10-digit ID issued by CMS for use in standard healthcare transactions.
- What is Ray Chihara's specialty?
- Ray Chihara is listed in the NPPES registry with a primary specialty of Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians).
- Where is Ray Chihara located?
- Ray Chihara's practice location on file with NPPES is 6550 Fannin St Ste 1501, Houston, TX 77030-2743.
- What is Ray Chihara's phone number?
- The practice phone number listed in the NPPES registry for Ray Chihara is (713) 441-5177.
- Does Ray Chihara accept Medicare?
- Ray Chihara is approved to bill Medicare according to CMS PECOS enrollment data (2026.04.01). Confirm current participation with the provider before scheduling.
- Is Ray Chihara's NPI active?
- Yes — Ray Chihara's NPI (1740438928) is active in the NPPES registry as of the last update on 2018-08-16.
Source: CMS NPPES Data Dissemination (June 2026). NPI Central is not affiliated with CMS. Data is provided as-is from the public registry.