Michael L Deftos, MD
Pathology · San Jose
- Medicare standing
- Clear
- Enrolled, allowed to bill and order, not excluded
- Plans that list them
- Not verified
- Not the same as out of network.
- Office
- 1
Offices
1 location · County of Santa Clara · 1,000 clinicians in this group
Looking this up.
Hospitals listed: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. That is not proof they admit you there this week.
Plan participation
Not verified
We could not verify current plan participation for this doctor. This does not mean they are out of network. Call Dr. Deftos’s office at (408) 885-5000 to ask if they take your plan before you enroll.
California Medical Board record
Licence A98387 · Current
Licensed to practise in California · since 2006 · expires 2028-03-31 · University of Washington School of Medicine.
No disciplinary actions, convictions, malpractice judgments or citations in this record.
Hospitals they work in
1 hospital
These rate the hospital, not this clinician. Most measures at most hospitals are no different from the national rate.
- Santa Clara Valley Medical CenterSan Jose, CAAcute Care Hospital · Government - Local · Has an emergency department · Birthing-friendlyPart of Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System, which runs 3 hospitalsPatients rate it 3 of 5 · 70% would definitely recommend itOverall rating: 2 of 5 starsWorse than the national rate — SSI - Colon Surgery: 2.572, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): 0.563, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): 0.256, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — MRSA Bacteremia: 0.369, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
See every measure and the patient survey for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Behind the star rating — Deaths: 2 better, 6 the same, 0 worse of 8 measures. Safety: 2 better, 5 the same, 1 worse of 8 measures. Readmissions: 0 better, 10 the same, 1 worse of 11 measures. The star rating is worked out from an earlier period than the measures below, so the two can disagree.
| SSI - Colon SurgeryInfections | 2.572 | Worse | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)Infections | 0.563 | Better | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)Infections | 0.256 | Better | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| MRSA BacteremiaInfections | 0.369 | Better | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rateComplications and deaths | 1.25 (0.3 to 2.2) · 1,535 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events compositeComplications and deaths | 1.07 (0.76 to 1.38) | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complicationsComplications and deaths | 214.59 (167.38 to 261.8) · 108 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Death rate for CABG surgery patientsComplications and deaths | 2.8 · 41 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for COPD patientsComplications and deaths | 6 · 141 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for heart attack patientsComplications and deaths | 10.2 · 124 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for heart failure patientsComplications and deaths | 8.3 · 501 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for pneumonia patientsComplications and deaths | 14.9 · 653 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Death rate for stroke patientsComplications and deaths | 10.1 · 348 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality RateComplications and deaths | 3 · 4,502 cases | None | Jul 2024 – Jun 2025 |
| Iatrogenic pneumothorax rateComplications and deaths | 0.24 (0.04 to 0.43) · 9,014 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| In-hospital fall-associated fracture rateComplications and deaths | 0.34 (0.15 to 0.52) · 9,216 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rateComplications and deaths | 4.54 (2.51 to 6.58) · 1,421 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rateComplications and deaths | 1.54 (0 to 3.2) · 288 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rateComplications and deaths | 2.11 (0.66 to 3.56) · 1,446 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative respiratory failure rateComplications and deaths | 11.61 (4.09 to 19.14) · 294 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative sepsis rateComplications and deaths | 7.29 (3.39 to 11.2) · 299 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Postoperative wound dehiscence rateComplications and deaths | 1.9 (0.45 to 3.36) · 333 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Pressure ulcer rateComplications and deaths | 0.23 (0 to 0.78) · 7,538 cases | No different | Jul 2022 – Jun 2024 |
| Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patientsComplications and deaths | 5.4 · 94 cases | None | Apr 2023 – Mar 2025 |
| Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)Infections | 0.735 | No different | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| SSI - Abdominal HysterectomyInfections | 2.573 | No different | Oct 2024 – Sep 2025 |
| Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits | 14.6 · 185 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits | 22.1 · 951 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Hospital return days for heart attack patientsUnplanned return visits | 56.3 · 128 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Hospital return days for heart failure patientsUnplanned return visits | 6.4 · 644 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Hospital return days for pneumonia patientsUnplanned return visits | 1.3 · 699 cases | None | Jul 2022 – Jun 2025 |
| Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits | 16.3 · 921 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits | 5.7 (3.9 to 8.1) · 226 cases | No different | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 |
| Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits | 12.6 (9.4 to 16.5) · 226 cases | No different | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 |
| Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacementUnplanned return visits | 5.4 · 94 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of readmission for CABGUnplanned return visits | 11.4 · 54 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patientsUnplanned return visits | 20.3 · 242 cases | None | Jul 2023 – Jun 2025 |
| Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)Unplanned return visits | 13.2 (9.9 to 17.4) · 702 cases | No different | Jan 2022 – Dec 2024 |
| Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgeryUnplanned return visits | 1 (0.7 to 1.4) · 195 cases | No different | Jan 2024 – Dec 2024 |
What patients said (4,032 patients answered, 29% of those asked)
| Cleanliness | 3 |
| Nurse communication | 3 |
| Doctor communication | 3 |
| Communication about medicines | 3 |
| Discharge information | 2 |
| Overall hospital rating | 3 |
| Quietness | 2 |
| Recommend hospital | 4 |
| Room was "always" clean | 70% |
| Nurses "always" communicated well | 73% |
| Doctors "always" communicated well | 76% |
| Staff "always" explained | 57% |
| Yes, staff "did" give patients this information | 82% |
| Yes, staff "did" give patients information about help after discharge | 82% |
| Doctors "always" explained things so they could understand | 71% |
| Doctors "always" listened carefully | 74% |
| Doctors "always" treated them with courtesy and respect | 82% |
| Patients who gave a rating of "9" or "10" (high) | 67% |
| Staff "always" explained new medications | 71% |
| Nurses "always" explained things so they could understand | 71% |
| Nurses "always" listened carefully | 69% |
| Nurses "always" treated them with courtesy and respect | 80% |
| "Always" quiet at night | 43% |
| "YES", patients would definitely recommend the hospital | 70% |
| Staff "always" explained possible side effects | 44% |
| Yes, staff "did" give patients information about possible symptoms | 83% |
Original Medicare doctor bills
$15,732
Medicare paid this office $15,732 for 166 people.
This is what Medicare paid the clinician — not Medicare Advantage, and not the pharmacy.
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 99 | $5,207 | $34 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately high complexity | 15 | $1,717 | $75 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, each additional procedure | 20 | $1,694 | $25 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate with interpretation and report | 23 | $1,453 | $63 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, initial procedure | 31 | $1,076 | $32 |
See all 9 services
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 99 | $5,207 | $34 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately high complexity | 15 | $1,717 | $75 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, each additional procedure | 20 | $1,694 | $25 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate with interpretation and report | 23 | $1,453 | $63 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, initial procedure | 31 | $1,076 | $32 |
| Cell examination of specimen, selective cellular enhancement technique | 24 | $651 | $24 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 13 | $433 | $24 |
| Pap test, automated thin layer preparation; automated system and manual rescreening | 14 | $365 | $26 |
| Pap test | 13 | $294 | $23 |
Who their Medicare patients are
166 Original Medicare patients in 2024. Average age 70 · Under 65 18% · 85 and older 7% · Women 57% · Also on Medicaid 80% · Health risk score 2.02. Above the middle of the specialty; the typical pathology clinician is at 1.55.
Conditions among them: High blood pressure 75% · Diabetes 42% · Chronic kidney disease 30% · Cancer 29% · Heart failure 24% · Coronary heart disease 22% · Depression 20% · COPD 19% · Atrial fibrillation 16% · Stroke 12% · Dementia 10%.
The office billed $214,717, Medicare allowed $19,773 and paid $15,732; for 476 services of 28 kinds.
Original Medicare patients only. A risk score of 1.0 is the average Medicare patient; higher means sicker. Any count under 11 is hidden.
Year by year
| 2024 | 166 | 476 | 70 | 2.02 | $214,717 | $15,732 |
| 2023 | 213 | 604 | 69 | 1.90 | $277,801 | $21,427 |
| 2022 | 232 | 630 | 69 | 2.12 | $269,944 | $21,739 |
| 2021 | 169 | 469 | 69 | 2.15 | $185,439 | $15,806 |
| 2018 | 15 | 20 | 67 | 2.91 | $3,964 | $609 |
| 2017 | 14 | 20 | 70 | 2.10 | $5,029 | $745 |
| 2016 | 14 | 19 | 69 | 1.87 | $8,978 | $1,214 |
| 2015 | 147 | 330 | 68 | 1.87 | $109,611 | $10,859 |
| 2014 | 318 | 607 | 68 | 1.40 | $193,145 | $18,539 |
| 2013 | 248 | 610 | 66 | 1.40 | $170,845 | $19,863 |
Original Medicare only. A service billed for fewer than 11 people in a year is hidden, so the lines can add up to less than the year's total.
See the services billed each year
2023: 11 services
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 135 | $8,094 | $34 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately high complexity | 23 | $3,313 | $77 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate with interpretation and report | 19 | $1,637 | $65 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, each additional procedure | 21 | $1,241 | $26 |
| Microscopic genetic analysis of tumor, manual | 11 | $1,167 | $39 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, initial procedure | 26 | $910 | $33 |
| Cell examination of specimen, selective cellular enhancement technique | 28 | $770 | $26 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 20 | $666 | $25 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate | 12 | $534 | $33 |
| Pap test | 14 | $283 | $20 |
| Preparation of tissue for examination by removing any calcium present | 15 | $196 | $12 |
2022: 7 services
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 136 | $10,729 | $35 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately high complexity | 22 | $2,868 | $78 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, each additional procedure | 12 | $1,187 | $26 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, initial procedure | 19 | $880 | $33 |
| Cell examination of specimen, selective cellular enhancement technique | 29 | $811 | $25 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 18 | $717 | $24 |
| Cell examination of specimen, concentration technique | 19 | $428 | $21 |
2021: 8 services
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 106 | $8,229 | $36 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately high complexity | 16 | $1,268 | $79 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, initial procedure | 22 | $836 | $33 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, each additional procedure | 15 | $761 | $27 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 20 | $635 | $25 |
| Cell examination of specimen, selective cellular enhancement technique | 15 | $396 | $26 |
| Cell examination of specimen, concentration technique | 17 | $387 | $22 |
| Preparation of tissue for examination by removing any calcium present | 14 | $165 | $12 |
2018: 1 service
| Preparation of tissue for examination by removing any calcium present | 13 | $156 | $12 |
2015: 7 services
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 97 | $5,454 | $33 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate with interpretation and report | 13 | $837 | $64 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, initial procedure | 18 | $615 | $32 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 17 | $542 | $25 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate | 11 | $365 | $33 |
| Cell examination of specimen, selective cellular enhancement technique | 13 | $328 | $25 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue including interpretation and report | 14 | $306 | $11 |
2014: 13 services
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 200 | $9,408 | $33 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate with interpretation and report | 29 | $1,376 | $46 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately high complexity | 17 | $1,369 | $76 |
| Cell examination of specimen, selective cellular enhancement technique | 32 | $794 | $19 |
| Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry, per specimen; first single or multiplex antibody stain | 28 | $705 | $25 |
| Pathology examination of specimen during surgery, first tissue block | 12 | $685 | $57 |
| Evaluation of fine needle aspirate | 25 | $684 | $26 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 22 | $621 | $25 |
| Cell examination of body fluid, smears | 25 | $604 | $21 |
| Pap test, evaluation of fine needle aspirate, immediate, each additional evaluation episode | 19 | $346 | $18 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue including interpretation and report | 20 | $325 | $11 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately low complexity | 24 | $245 | $10 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, limited examination | 13 | $53 | $4 |
2013: 7 services
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | 185 | $10,401 | $32 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue, initial procedure | 36 | $3,378 | $38 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately high complexity | 16 | $1,364 | $72 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 27 | $749 | $23 |
| Cell examination of specimen, selective cellular enhancement technique | 13 | $735 | $37 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue including interpretation and report | 15 | $352 | $10 |
| Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, moderately low complexity | 23 | $241 | $10 |
Medicaid work
$11,231 in 2024
Medicaid paid $11,231 for 1,307 billed services this clinician did in 2024, up to 78 people in a month for one service.
Medicaid and CHIP claims where this clinician did the service, fee-for-service and managed care together. Any month with fewer than 11 patients is hidden, so small Medicaid practices undercount.
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 984 | $8,680 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 68 | $894 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 68 | $521 |
| CYTP EVAL FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATE INTERP & REPORT | 92 | $445 |
| Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry, per specimen; initial single antibody stain procedure | 35 | $370 |
| Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (eg, acid fast, methenamine silver) | 20 | $171 |
| Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), collected in preservative fluid, automated thin layer preparation; with screening by automated system and manual rescreening or review, under physician supervision | 28 | $122 |
| Cytopathology, selective cellular enhancement technique with interpretation (eg, liquid based slide preparation method), except cervical or vaginal | 12 | $28 |
| 2024 | 1,307 | 8 | 78 | $11,231 |
| 2023 | 1,482 | 8 | 99 | $13,284 |
| 2022 | 1,271 | 6 | 82 | $11,555 |
| 2021 | 1,191 | 6 | 84 | $10,483 |
| 2020 | 1,113 | 5 | 63 | $14,189 |
| 2019 | 1,134 | 5 | 64 | $18,621 |
| 2018 | 1,342 | 5 | 66 | $26,194 |
See the largest Medicaid services in earlier years
2023
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 1,131 | $11,054 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 77 | $751 |
| CYTP EVAL FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATE INTERP & REPORT | 74 | $734 |
| Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (eg, acid fast, methenamine silver) | 54 | $271 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 49 | $146 |
| Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry, per specimen; initial single antibody stain procedure | 35 | $134 |
| Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate; immediate cytohistologic study to determine adequacy for diagnosis, first evaluation episode, each site | 27 | $114 |
| Cytopathology, selective cellular enhancement technique with interpretation (eg, liquid based slide preparation method), except cervical or vaginal | 35 | $79 |
2022
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 1,143 | $10,185 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 49 | $524 |
| CYTP EVAL FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATE INTERP & REPORT | 34 | $373 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 15 | $299 |
| Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (eg, acid fast, methenamine silver) | 15 | $140 |
| Cytopathology, selective cellular enhancement technique with interpretation (eg, liquid based slide preparation method), except cervical or vaginal | 15 | $33 |
2021
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 1,018 | $8,991 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 90 | $1,173 |
| Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (eg, acid fast, methenamine silver) | 30 | $196 |
| Cytopathology, cervical or vaginal (any reporting system), collected in preservative fluid, automated thin layer preparation; with screening by automated system and manual rescreening or review, under physician supervision | 20 | $94 |
| Pap test | 15 | $19 |
| CYTP EVAL FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATE INTERP & REPORT | 18 | $9 |
2020
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 972 | $12,525 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 63 | $852 |
| Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry, per specimen; initial single antibody stain procedure | 32 | $533 |
| Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (eg, acid fast, methenamine silver) | 33 | $238 |
| Cytopathology, selective cellular enhancement technique with interpretation (eg, liquid based slide preparation method), except cervical or vaginal | 13 | $41 |
2019
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 950 | $16,855 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 81 | $964 |
| Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (eg, acid fast, methenamine silver) | 56 | $433 |
| CYTP EVAL FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATE INTERP & REPORT | 31 | $295 |
| Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry, per specimen; initial single antibody stain procedure | 16 | $73 |
2018
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 1,110 | $24,219 |
| TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | 100 | $1,024 |
| CYTP EVAL FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATE INTERP & REPORT | 44 | $420 |
| Special stain including interpretation and report; Group I for microorganisms (eg, acid fast, methenamine silver) | 73 | $365 |
| Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate; immediate cytohistologic study to determine adequacy for diagnosis, first evaluation episode, each site | 15 | $166 |
Checkups this office reported
Medicare did not publish checkup rates for this clinician.
- Medicare’s overall office score
- 80.6 / 100
- Scores the office’s reporting and systems. It is not a grade for how the doctor treats you.
Professional record
- NPI
- 1346557139
- Licence
- CA A98387California A98387: Current · expires 2028-03-31
- Trained
- University of Washington School of Medicine, 2003
- Gender
- Male
More record details
- Sole proprietor
- Yes
- Taxonomy
- Federal specialty code 207ZP0102X (207ZP0102X)
- Mailing address
- 2455 39th Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94116
- NPI first listed
- 2010-09-01
- NPI last updated
- 2010-09-01
This is when the NPI record was last certified, not a medical board exam.