Richard Helmer, MD
NPI 1881898666 · Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician · Waco, TX
Enrolled with Medicare as Practitioner - Thoracic Surgery · source: CMS PECOS Public Provider Enrollment (2026.04.01)
Richard Helmer, MD is a Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician provider in Waco, TX (NPI 1881898666).
Provider details
- NPI number
- 1881898666
- Entity type
- Individual
- Primary specialty
- Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) PhysicianAllopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
- Credential
- MD
- Sex
- Male
- Sole proprietor
- No
- License
- L9237 (TX)
Specialties & taxonomies
Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians
Other Service Providers
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
198 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) |
|---|---|---|
| New Patient Office Or Other Outpatient Visit With a High Level of Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, 60 Minutes Or More99205 | 33 | $206 |
| Established Patient Office Or Other Outpatient Visit With Low Level OD Decision Making, If Using Time, 20 Minutes Or More99213 | 24 | $84 |
| New Patient Office Or Other Outpatient Visit With Moderate Level of Medical Decision Making, If Using Time, 45 Minutes Or More99204 | 23 | $161 |
| Subsequent Hospital Care With Straightforward Or Low Level of Medical Decision Making, Per Day, If Using Time, at Least 25 Minutes99231 | 23 | $47 |
| Established Patient Office Or Other Outpatient Visit With Moderate Level of Decision Making, If Using Time, 30 Minutes Or More99214 | 21 | $123 |
| Exclusion of Appendage of Left Upper Chamber of Heart Performed During Other Procedure on Chest |
Transparency — industry payments
Based on CMS Open Payments, 2024; not all care is captured.
$1,650 across 30 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
- 2007-06-13
- Last updated
- 2024-05-15
- Certified
- 2024-05-15
Frequently asked questions
- What is Richard Helmer's NPI number?
- Richard Helmer's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1881898666, a unique 10-digit ID issued by CMS for use in standard healthcare transactions.
- What is Richard Helmer's specialty?
- Richard Helmer is listed in the NPPES registry with a primary specialty of Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician (Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians).
- Where is Richard Helmer located?
- Richard Helmer's practice location on file with NPPES is 50 Hillcrest Medical Blvd, Waco, TX 76712-8952.
- What is Richard Helmer's phone number?
- The practice phone number listed in the NPPES registry for Richard Helmer is (254) 202-0480.
- Does Richard Helmer accept Medicare?
- Richard Helmer is approved to bill Medicare according to CMS PECOS enrollment data (2026.04.01). Confirm current participation with the provider before scheduling.
- Is Richard Helmer's NPI active?
- Yes — Richard Helmer's NPI (1881898666) is active in the NPPES registry as of the last update on 2024-05-15.
Source: CMS NPPES Data Dissemination (June 2026). NPI Central is not affiliated with CMS. Data is provided as-is from the public registry.