Russell Merritt
Pediatric Gastroenterology · Los Angeles, CANPI 1730348962
Payments from drug & device makers
What this record shows
This record is dominated by consulting fees: $11,500 of the $12,501 with a category attached, or 92.0%. 3 manufacturers reported payments, led by Shire North American Group Inc at 56.0% of the total. Reporting peaked in 2019 at $7,001 and has fallen 57.2% since, to $3,000 in 2021. Among pediatric gastroenterology clinicians in CA with any reported payments, this total sits in the top 10% — high for the specialty, which is a reason to read the composition above rather than the number alone.
Across 9 payments — averaging $1389.05 each. Meals, travel, consulting and speaking fees, gifts and royalties reported by drug and device makers.
- Shire North American Group Inc$7K
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.$3K
- Alcresta Therapeutics, Inc.$3K
Across 218 payments — averaging $2947.03 each. Payments tied to a research study. These frequently flow through the physician to a hospital or research institution rather than to the physician personally.
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.$379K
- Shire North American Group Inc$263K
- Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC$350
What the payments were for
- Consulting fees$11,50092%
- Travel & lodging$9087%
- Food & beverage$931%
General payments by program year
Who reported the general payments
Companies are grouped under their corporate parent — a single manufacturer often files under several CMS reporting entities. Research and ownership payments are counted separately and are not in this table.
| Company | Payments | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Shire North American Group Inc | 7 | $7,001 |
| Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | 1 | $3,000 |
| Alcresta Therapeutics, Inc. | 1 | $2,500 |
What the payments were tied to
Products named in the reported payments. Only payments of $100 or more are attributed here — the typical reported payment nationally is a meal worth about $16, and listing those product-by-product would be noise.
- RELIZORB$2,500
How this compares
$12,501 in reported general payments places this provider in the 90th percentile of 220 pediatric gastroenterology providers in California.
See all pediatric gastroenterology providers in California →
Other pediatric gastroenterology in Los Angeles
- David ZiringLos Angeles$206K
- Robert VenickLos Angeles$78K
- Jessica DeasLos Angeles$74K
- Rohit KohliLos Angeles$46K
- Beth CarterLos Angeles$33K
- Mallory ChavannesLos Angeles$24K
- Rula HarbLos Angeles$17K
- Roy NattivLos Angeles$9K
- Chuan-Hao LinLos Angeles$6K
- Shervin RabizadehLos Angeles$6K
Where these figures come from
- Payments: CMS Open Payments, program years 2019–2025 (publication P06302026_06032026).
- Identity: NPPES NPI Registry, July 2026.