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Edit this profileAt a glance
- 6550 Fannin St Ste 1501, Houston, TX 77030
About Dr. Chihara
Ray K. Chihara, M.D. is a healthcare provider in Houston, TX specializing in thoracic surgery. Ray trained at Indiana University School of Medicine, graduating in 2007. Ray is also listed as specializing in thoracic surgery (cardiothoracic). According to Medicare claims data, Ray cared for 381 Medicare patients across 533 services. The services billed most often include subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making, if using time, at least 35 minutes, established patient office or other outpatient visit with moderate level of decision making, if using time, 30 minutes or more, and initial hospital care with straightforward or low-level medical decision making, if using time, at least 55 minutes. This provider record is associated with NPI 1740438928.
Factual summary compiled by Guide.md from public records; not written by this provider.
Education & Training
Specialty
Credentials & Licensing
Medicare information
Exactly as CMS reports it (National Downloadable File, Opt-Out Affidavits, Order & Referring). Not an insurance directory; confirm coverage with the office.
Contact Information
- (713) 441-5177
- Email not available
Practice Locations
6550 FANNIN ST STE 1501
Houston, TX 77030
Conditions Commonly Evaluated or Treated
Within Thoracic Surgery generally. Availability varies by clinician, training and location — this profile has not been claimed, so nothing here is a personal claim by the provider.
Conditions
Airway
Chest tumors
Chest wall
Diaphragm
Esophagus
Esophagus and stomach
- Acid reflux
- Barrett's esophagus
- Esophageal cancer
- Esophageal pouch
- Esophagus tear
- Hiatal hernia
- Swallowing difficulties
Heart lining
Infection
Lung
Lung cancer
Lung conditions
Nerves
Nerves and blood vessels
Neuromuscular
Pleural disease
Sweating disorders
Trauma
Vascular
Procedures & services
Airway
Airway surgery
Chest tumors
Chest wall
Chest wall surgery
- Broken rib plating surgery
- Chest wall reconstruction
- Sunken chest repair
- Thoracic Outlet Decompression
Diagnostic tests
Diagnostics
Diaphragm
Diaphragm surgery
Emphysema
Esophagus
Esophagus surgery
- Acid reflux surgery
- Esophageal dilation
- Esophageal stent placement
- Esophagus removal surgery
- Hiatal hernia surgery
- Peroral endoscopic myotomy
Fluid drainage
Heart lining
Lung surgery
- Collapsed lung surgery
- Lung cancer surgery
- Lung lining scraping and cleaning
- Lung nodule removal
- Lung valve placement for emphysema
- Minimally invasive lung surgery
Nerves
Pleural disease
Robotic surgery
Surgical approach
Sweat surgery
Transplant
Trauma
Procedures Most Often Billed to Medicare
533 services · 381 patients · 10 distinct codes
| Procedure | Type | Code | Services | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Removal of lymph nodes of chest cavity using an endoscope | Procedure | 32674 |
18 | As often as other peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| Repair of hernia of muscle at esophagus and stomach using an endoscope | Procedure | 43281 |
13 | Less often than most peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| Initial removal of wedge of lung tissue using an endoscope | Procedure | 32666 |
12 | Less often than most peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| Study of esophageal sensation by balloon distension | Treatment | 91040 |
18 | Too few peers to compare |
| Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making, if using time, at least 35 minutes | Office visit | 99232 |
170 | More than most peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit with moderate level of decision making, if using time, 30 minutes or more | Office visit | 99214 |
113 | More often than most peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| Initial hospital care with straightforward or low-level medical decision making, if using time, at least 55 minutes | Office visit | 99222 |
72 | More than most peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| New patient office or other outpatient visit with moderate level of medical decision making, if using time, 45 minutes or more | Office visit | 99204 |
66 | More often than most peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit with low level od decision making, if using time, 20 minutes or more | Office visit | 99213 |
36 | As often as other peers in Thoracic Surgery |
| Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making, if using time, at least 50 minutes | Office visit | 99233 |
15 | Less often than most peers in Thoracic Surgery |
Source: CMS Medicare public data. Shows how often procedures were billed — not quality of care or patient satisfaction.
Related providers
Connections drawn from the registry and from what providers have told us. A link here is not a referral or an endorsement.
Other thoracic surgeons at this location 1
Same specialty, same street address — most likely the same department or group.
Related specialists at this location 1
Clinically related specialties at the same address — the people this provider most likely works alongside.
Also at this address 4
Providers at the same street address. Each files their own registry entry, so a shared practice often appears under several different names.
More connections — 31 related providers in 4 groups
Other thoracic surgeons in Houston 7
Same specialty, same city.
Trained at Indiana University School of Medicine 8
Other providers in the same specialty who trained at the same institution.
Class of 2007 at Indiana University School of Medicine 8
Providers who graduated from the same medical school in the same year.
Also performs Removal of lymph nodes of chest cavity using an endoscope 8
Providers in TX who bill this service to Medicare most often.
Common questions
What does Ray K. Chihara specialize in?
Ray K. Chihara is a thoracic surgeon in Houston, TX. That is the designation recorded for this NPI in the federal registry, where it is listed as “Thoracic Surgery”.
NPI registry
Where is Ray K. Chihara located?
Ray K. Chihara is listed at 6550 Fannin St Ste 1501, Houston, TX 77030. Addresses come from the NPI registry and can lag a move, so confirm before travelling.
NPI registry
What is Ray K. Chihara's phone number?
The number on file is (713) 441-5177. Contact the office directly to confirm availability and scheduling.
NPI registry
What is Ray K. Chihara's NPI number?
Ray K. Chihara's National Provider Identifier is 1740438928. It is issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is unique and permanent — it does not change if they move practice.
NPI registry
Where did Ray K. Chihara train?
Ray K. Chihara attended Indiana University School of Medicine, graduating in 2007. This comes from the CMS National Downloadable File.
CMS public data
How long has Ray K. Chihara been practicing?
Ray K. Chihara has 19 years experience. Calculated from a graduation year of 2007, reported in the CMS National Downloadable File.
CMS public data
What does Ray K. Chihara do most often?
According to Medicare billing data, Ray K. Chihara performs procedures including removal of lymph nodes of chest cavity using an endoscope, repair of hernia of muscle at esophagus and stomach using an endoscope and initial removal of wedge of lung tissue using an endoscope; provides treatments such as study of esophageal sensation by balloon distension, alongside routine visits and testing. This reflects Medicare patients only and is billing volume, not a measure of quality.
Medicare claims
Has Ray K. Chihara confirmed this information?
Not yet. This profile is built from public federal data and has not been confirmed by Ray K. Chihara. If this is you, claiming it is free.
Guide.md
Guide.md listings do not constitute medical advice or an endorsement.