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Melania Sunita Poonacha, MD

Pediatric Medicine · San Francisco

NPI 1497074108

Medicare standing
Clear
Enrolled, allowed to bill and order, not excluded
Plans that list them
2
1 carrier
Offices
2

Offices

2 locations · San Francisco Unified Physicians Group, Inc · Dignity Health Medical Foundation

Looking this up.

Hospitals listed: Chinese Hospital · Dominican Hospital. That is not proof they admit you there this week.

Plans that list them

2 plans · 1 carrier

A missing listing does not mean out of network. Directories change, and a listing does not cover every office. Call Dr. Poonacha’s office to confirm they take your plan. Ask about the office you use, its medical group, referrals and appointments.

Plans whose provider directory lists this clinician
Anthem Full Dual Advantage Aligned (HMO D-SNP)Anthem Blue CrossListedOct 3, 2026
Anthem Medicare Advantage (HMO-POS)Anthem Blue CrossListedOct 3, 2026

California Medical Board record

Licence A130281 · Current

Licensed to practise in California · since 2014 · expires 2027-10-31 · University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

No disciplinary actions, convictions, malpractice judgments or citations in this record.

Hospitals they work in

2 hospitals

These rate the hospital, not this clinician. Most measures at most hospitals are no different from the national rate.

  • Chinese HospitalSan Francisco, CAAcute Care Hospital · Voluntary non-profit - Private · Has an emergency departmentPatients rate it 3 of 5 · 64% would definitely recommend it
    Overall rating: 2 of 5 starsNo measure marked better or worse than the national rate
  • Dominican HospitalSanta Cruz, CAAcute Care Hospital · Voluntary non-profit - Private · Has an emergency department · Birthing-friendlyPart of CommonSpirit Health, which runs 145 hospitals in 19 statesPatients rate it 4 of 5 · 68% would definitely recommend it
    Overall rating: 4 of 5 starsWorse than the national rate — Postoperative sepsis rate: 11.66 (8.02 to 15.3) · 412 cases, Jul 2022 – Jun 2024Better than the national rate — Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): 0.168, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): 0.169, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): 0.489, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
See every measure and the patient survey for Chinese Hospital

Behind the star rating — Deaths: 0 better, 5 the same, 0 worse of 5 measures. Safety: 0 better, 2 the same, 0 worse of 2 measures. Readmissions: 0 better, 7 the same, 1 worse of 8 measures. The star rating is worked out from an earlier period than the measures below, so the two can disagree.

Every scored measure at Chinese Hospital
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rateComplications and deaths1.02 (0 to 2.09) · 104 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events compositeComplications and deaths1.12 (0.64 to 1.61)No differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Death rate for COPD patientsComplications and deaths7.3 · 28 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for heart failure patientsComplications and deaths8.6 · 71 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for pneumonia patientsComplications and deaths15.1 · 66 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for stroke patientsComplications and deaths10.7 · 81 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality RateComplications and deaths3.5 · 569 casesNoneJul 2024 – Jun 2025
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rateComplications and deaths0.2 (0 to 0.44) · 766 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rateComplications and deaths0.26 (0.05 to 0.48) · 749 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rateComplications and deaths3.34 (0.76 to 5.93) · 96 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rateComplications and deaths2.13 (0.4 to 3.85) · 50 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rateComplications and deaths2.3 (0.57 to 4.02) · 93 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative respiratory failure rateComplications and deaths8.72 (0 to 18.54) · 48 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative sepsis rateComplications and deaths5.04 (0.78 to 9.3) · 48 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative wound dehiscence rateComplications and deaths2.07 (0.55 to 3.59) · 58 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Pressure ulcer rateComplications and deaths1.12 (0 to 2.33) · 543 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)Infections0.392No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits21.7 · 111 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for heart failure patientsUnplanned return visits33 · 78 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for pneumonia patientsUnplanned return visits16.3 · 64 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits19 · 148 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patientsUnplanned return visits19.1 · 55 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)Unplanned return visits13 (9.7 to 17.1) · 478 casesNo differentJan 2022 – Dec 2024
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgeryUnplanned return visits1 (0.7 to 1.5) · 39 casesNo differentJan 2024 – Dec 2024

What patients said (160 patients answered, 21% of those asked)

Patient survey stars by topic at Chinese Hospital
Cleanliness4
Nurse communication3
Doctor communication3
Communication about medicines3
Discharge information4
Overall hospital rating3
Quietness3
Recommend hospital3
Share of patients giving the best answer at Chinese Hospital
Room was "always" clean74%
Nurses "always" communicated well77%
Doctors "always" communicated well78%
Staff "always" explained68%
Yes, staff "did" give patients this information89%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about help after discharge85%
Doctors "always" explained things so they could understand77%
Doctors "always" listened carefully73%
Doctors "always" treated them with courtesy and respect83%
Patients who gave a rating of "9" or "10" (high)63%
Staff "always" explained new medications79%
Nurses "always" explained things so they could understand77%
Nurses "always" listened carefully71%
Nurses "always" treated them with courtesy and respect82%
"Always" quiet at night55%
"YES", patients would definitely recommend the hospital64%
Staff "always" explained possible side effects57%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about possible symptoms93%
See every measure and the patient survey for Dominican Hospital

Behind the star rating — Deaths: 1 better, 7 the same, 0 worse of 8 measures. Safety: 2 better, 5 the same, 0 worse of 7 measures. Readmissions: 1 better, 8 the same, 2 worse of 11 measures. The star rating is worked out from an earlier period than the measures below, so the two can disagree.

Every scored measure at Dominican Hospital
Postoperative sepsis rateComplications and deaths11.66 (8.02 to 15.3) · 412 casesWorseJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)Infections0.168BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)Infections0.169BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)Infections0.489BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rateComplications and deaths1.01 (0.06 to 1.95) · 1,248 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events compositeComplications and deaths1.14 (0.85 to 1.43)No differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complicationsComplications and deaths134.37 (94.33 to 174.41) · 132 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Death rate for CABG surgery patientsComplications and deaths2.4 · 54 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for COPD patientsComplications and deaths7.2 · 137 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for heart attack patientsComplications and deaths12 · 228 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for heart failure patientsComplications and deaths10.5 · 534 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for pneumonia patientsComplications and deaths12.8 · 491 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for stroke patientsComplications and deaths8.7 · 278 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality RateComplications and deaths3.4 · 2,973 casesNoneJul 2024 – Jun 2025
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rateComplications and deaths0.14 (0 to 0.34) · 7,510 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rateComplications and deaths0.21 (0.02 to 0.4) · 7,695 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rateComplications and deaths3.42 (1.44 to 5.4) · 1,594 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rateComplications and deaths1.26 (0 to 2.76) · 436 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rateComplications and deaths1.85 (0.4 to 3.29) · 1,474 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative respiratory failure rateComplications and deaths8.73 (3 to 14.46) · 437 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative wound dehiscence rateComplications and deaths1.58 (0.13 to 3.03) · 343 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Pressure ulcer rateComplications and deaths0.57 (0 to 1.17) · 6,336 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
MRSA BacteremiaInfections0.615No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
SSI - Colon SurgeryInfections1.937No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits16 · 212 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits22 · 505 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for heart attack patientsUnplanned return visits45 · 237 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for heart failure patientsUnplanned return visits-13.5 · 594 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for pneumonia patientsUnplanned return visits1.9 · 510 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits16.9 · 473 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits5.2 (3.4 to 7.8) · 126 casesNo differentJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits13 (9.4 to 17.7) · 126 casesNo differentJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Rate of readmission for CABGUnplanned return visits12.7 · 43 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patientsUnplanned return visits19.7 · 143 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)Unplanned return visits12.1 (9.4 to 15.4) · 1,585 casesNo differentJan 2022 – Dec 2024
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgeryUnplanned return visits1 (0.7 to 1.3) · 390 casesNo differentJan 2024 – Dec 2024

What patients said (774 patients answered, 23% of those asked)

Patient survey stars by topic at Dominican Hospital
Cleanliness4
Nurse communication4
Doctor communication4
Communication about medicines3
Discharge information4
Overall hospital rating3
Quietness1
Recommend hospital4
Share of patients giving the best answer at Dominican Hospital
Room was "always" clean73%
Nurses "always" communicated well79%
Doctors "always" communicated well81%
Staff "always" explained61%
Yes, staff "did" give patients this information87%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about help after discharge86%
Doctors "always" explained things so they could understand77%
Doctors "always" listened carefully79%
Doctors "always" treated them with courtesy and respect87%
Patients who gave a rating of "9" or "10" (high)67%
Staff "always" explained new medications75%
Nurses "always" explained things so they could understand76%
Nurses "always" listened carefully76%
Nurses "always" treated them with courtesy and respect85%
"Always" quiet at night32%
"YES", patients would definitely recommend the hospital68%
Staff "always" explained possible side effects48%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about possible symptoms88%

Original Medicare doctor bills

$29,860

Medicare paid this office $29,860 for 182 people.

This is what Medicare paid the clinician — not Medicare Advantage, and not the pharmacy.

Largest Original Medicare bills
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes145$21,120$145
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes26$3,312$97
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes17$1,546$67

Who their Medicare patients are

182 Original Medicare patients in 2024. Average age 79 · 85 and older 34% · Women 51% · Also on Medicaid 62% · Health risk score 2.01. Above the middle of the specialty; the typical pediatric medicine clinician is at 1.4.

Conditions among them: High blood pressure 75% · Diabetes 46% · Chronic kidney disease 46% · Heart failure 43% · Coronary heart disease 38% · Atrial fibrillation 33% · COPD 32% · Depression 30% · Dementia 27% · Stroke 20% · Cancer 16%.

The office billed $143,824, Medicare allowed $38,062 and paid $29,860; for 237 services of 10 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

Original Medicare by year
2024182237792.01$143,824$29,860
2023190274802.20$157,243$32,736
2022208543792.41$220,731$51,716
2021216915752.59$317,547$80,779
20202111,046752.65$367,651$97,663
2019153790773.23$255,069$70,478
20181841,180752.69$399,581$107,995
2017126606732.68$178,620$44,340
2016218423722.89$162,738$38,783
201564153723.55$32,159$12,485

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: 4 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2023
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes141$20,713$144
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes27$4,740$99
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes16$2,003$67
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes19$1,866$98

2022: 6 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2022
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes88$15,485$165
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes51$13,338$63
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes62$12,085$90
Initial hospital observation care per day, typically 70 minutes23$3,442$150
Initial hospital care with straightforward or low-level medical decision making at least 55 minutes15$1,722$115
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes16$1,475$92

2021: 4 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2021
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes100$36,432$92
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes97$22,459$63
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes96$15,916$166
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes24$2,162$90

2020: 5 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2020
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes116$55,567$94
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes81$20,266$66
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes86$14,796$172
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes35$3,366$96
Initial hospital observation care per day, typically 70 minutes17$2,718$160

2019: 4 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2019
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes83$45,988$93
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes57$11,962$65
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes43$7,163$167
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes35$3,327$95

2018: 4 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2018
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes102$79,154$92
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes63$11,336$62
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes59$10,365$173
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes46$4,238$92

2017: 5 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2017
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes73$26,594$61
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes37$6,183$167
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes32$6,073$87
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes27$2,392$89
Hospital discharge day management, 30 minutes or less13$770$59

2016: 6 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2016
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes79$11,956$87
Initial hospital care with moderate level of medical decision making at least 75 minutes59$10,034$170
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes60$6,233$61
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes37$3,362$91
Initial hospital care with straightforward or low-level medical decision making at least 55 minutes22$2,641$115
Hospital discharge day management, 30 minutes or less34$2,088$61

2015: 3 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2015
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 50 minutes34$6,054$88
Subsequent hospital care with moderate levelof medical decision making at least 35 minutes25$2,804$61
Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes21$1,919$91

Medicaid work

$3,175 in 2024

Medicaid paid $3,175 for 25 billed services this clinician did in 2024, up to 13 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.

Largest Medicaid services in 2024
1ST HOSP IP/OBS HIGH 7525$3,175
Medicaid work by year
202425113$3,175
202332118$5,596
202140214$7,020
201945112$1,191
See the largest Medicaid services in earlier years

2023

Largest Medicaid services in 2023
1ST HOSP IP/OBS HIGH 7532$5,596

2021

Largest Medicaid services in 2021
1ST HOSP IP/OBS HIGH 7526$4,724
INITIAL OBSERVATION CARE14$2,296

2019

Largest Medicaid services in 2019
SBSQ HOSPITAL IP/OBS CARE HIGH MDM 50 MINUTES45$1,191

Money from drug and device companies

$1,046 in 2025

Industry payments by year
202513$890$1,046
202411None$129
202312None$212
202211None$214
202111None$23
202022None$205
201933None$225

Paid work is consulting, speaking, honoraria and royalties, as opposed to meals and travel.

A payment is not proof that care is biased.

Payments by company
Gilead SciencesVeklury$1,046
3 payments
  • Consulting for Veklury · 2025-05-09 · $890
  • Meals for Veklury · 2025-04-24 · $147
  • Meals for Veklury · 2025-04-24 · $9
See all 3 published payments
Every published payment
Gilead SciencesConsulting · 2025-05-09Veklury$890
Gilead SciencesMeals · 2025-04-24Veklury$147
Gilead SciencesMeals · 2025-04-24Veklury$9
See earlier years (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)

2024: $129

Payments by company in 2024
AmgenTavneos$129
1 payment
  • Meals for Tavneos · 2024-06-20 · $129

2023: $212

Payments by company in 2023
Janssen PharmaceuticalsXarelto$212
2 payments
  • Meals for Xarelto · 2023-12-07 · $133
  • Meals for Xarelto · 2023-03-09 · $79

2022: $214

Payments by company in 2022
Janssen PharmaceuticalsXarelto$214
1 payment
  • Meals for Xarelto · 2022-10-27 · $214

2021: $23

Payments by company in 2021
Merck Sharp & DohmeDificid$23
1 payment
  • Meals for Dificid · 2021-03-30 · $23

2020: $205

Payments by company in 2020
E.R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C.Opdivo$111
1 payment
  • Meals for Opdivo · 2020-02-05 · $111
Merck Sharp & DohmeZerbaxa$93
1 payment
  • Meals for Zerbaxa · 2020-02-13 · $93

2019: $225

Payments by company in 2019
E.R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C.Opdivo$120
1 payment
  • Meals for Opdivo · 2019-11-14 · $120
Janssen PharmaceuticalsXarelto$91
1 payment
  • Meals for Xarelto · 2019-12-09 · $91
Merck Sharp & DohmeZerbaxa$14
1 payment
  • Meals for Zerbaxa · 2019-07-10 · $14

Checkups this office reported

Medicare did not publish checkup rates for this clinician.

Medicare’s overall office score
96.5 / 100
Scores the office’s reporting and systems. It is not a grade for how the doctor treats you.

Professional record

NPI
1497074108
Licence
CA A130281California A130281: Current · expires 2027-10-31
Trained
University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 2010
Group
San Francisco Unified Physicians Group, Inc · Dignity Health Medical Foundation
Gender
Female
More record details
Sole proprietor
No
Taxonomy
Hospitalist (208M00000X); Internal medicine (207R00000X); Pediatrics (208000000X)
Mailing address
725 Welch Rd, Palo Alto, CA, 94304
NPI first listed
2010-05-19
NPI last updated
2024-04-28
NPI record certified
2024-04-28

This is when the NPI record was last certified, not a medical board exam.

Extra NPI addresses: 1595 Soquel Dr Ste 400, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065