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Alvina D Chu, MD

Rheumatology · Stanford

NPI 1538355375

Medicare standing
Clear
Enrolled, allowed to bill and order, not excluded
Plans that list them
17
3 carriers
Office
1

Offices

1 location · Stanford Health Care · 3,152 clinicians in this group

Looking this up.

Hospitals listed: Stanford Health Care. That is not proof they admit you there this week.

Plans that list them

17 plans · 3 carriers

A missing listing does not mean out of network. Directories change, and a listing does not cover every office. Call Dr. Chu’s office at (650) 723-4000 to confirm they take your plan. Ask about the office you use, its medical group, referrals and appointments.

17 of 17 plans

Plans whose provider directory lists this clinician
Alignment Health BreathEasy (HMO C-SNP)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health Clarity (HMO C-SNP)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health Harmony (HMO)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health Heart & Diabetes (HMO C-SNP)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health Heart & Diabetes CalPlus (HMO C-SNP)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health Heart & Diabetes Care (HMO C-SNP)Alignment Health PlanListedSep 28, 2026
Alignment Health Heart & Diabetes Choice (HMO C-SNP)Alignment Health PlanListedSep 28, 2026
Alignment Health Honor+ Plan (HMO)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health My Choice CalCare (HMO)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health Silicon (HMO C-SNP)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health smartHMO (HMO)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
Alignment Health the ONE (HMO)Alignment Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP)SCAN Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
SCAN Classic (HMO)SCAN Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
SCAN MyChoice (HMO)SCAN Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP)SCAN Health PlanListedOct 3, 2026
DualConnect (HMO D-SNP)Santa Clara Family Health PlanListedSep 1, 2026

California Medical Board record

Licence A89065 · Current

Licensed to practise in California · since 2004 · expires 2028-09-30 · State University of New York at Buffalo 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.

  • Stanford Health CareStanford, CAAcute Care Hospital · Voluntary non-profit - Private · Has an emergency departmentPart of Stanford Health Care, which runs 3 hospitalsHome of Stanford Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer centrePatients rate it 4 of 5 · 83% would definitely recommend it
    Overall rating: 5 of 5 starsWorse than the national rate — Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate: 5.31 (4.24 to 6.37) · 8,661 cases, Jul 2022 – Jun 2024Worse than the national rate — Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy: 14.1 (12.7 to 15.7) · 2,191 cases, Jan 2024 – Dec 2024Better than the national rate — Postoperative respiratory failure rate: 4.08 (1.95 to 6.21) · 5,296 cases, Jul 2022 – Jun 2024Better than the national rate — Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): 0.317, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): 0.446, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — SSI - Colon Surgery: 0.241, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025Better than the national rate — Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery: 0.7 (0.6 to 0.9) · 3,348 cases, Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
See every measure and the patient survey for Stanford Health Care

Behind the star rating — Deaths: 5 better, 3 the same, 0 worse of 8 measures. Safety: 3 better, 5 the same, 0 worse of 8 measures. Readmissions: 2 better, 5 the same, 4 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 Stanford Health Care
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rateComplications and deaths5.31 (4.24 to 6.37) · 8,661 casesWorseJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits14.1 (12.7 to 15.7) · 2,191 casesWorseJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Postoperative respiratory failure rateComplications and deaths4.08 (1.95 to 6.21) · 5,296 casesBetterJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)Infections0.317BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)Infections0.446BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
SSI - Colon SurgeryInfections0.241BetterOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgeryUnplanned return visits0.7 (0.6 to 0.9) · 3,348 casesBetterJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rateComplications and deaths1.06 (0.45 to 1.67) · 5,374 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events compositeComplications and deaths0.86 (0.72 to 1)No differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complicationsComplications and deaths166.09 (137.88 to 194.3) · 470 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Death rate for CABG surgery patientsComplications and deaths1.1 · 192 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for COPD patientsComplications and deaths6.4 · 146 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for heart attack patientsComplications and deaths9.7 · 253 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for heart failure patientsComplications and deaths6.3 · 880 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for pneumonia patientsComplications and deaths10.3 · 935 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Death rate for stroke patientsComplications and deaths8.7 · 501 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality RateComplications and deaths2.1 · 7,730 casesNoneJul 2024 – Jun 2025
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rateComplications and deaths0.13 (0 to 0.27) · 20,799 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rateComplications and deaths0.28 (0.14 to 0.43) · 23,182 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rateComplications and deaths0.94 (0.2 to 1.68) · 5,694 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rateComplications and deaths2.36 (1.54 to 3.19) · 7,846 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative sepsis rateComplications and deaths5.2 (3.76 to 6.64) · 5,603 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Postoperative wound dehiscence rateComplications and deaths1.38 (0.23 to 2.53) · 2,211 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Pressure ulcer rateComplications and deaths0.52 (0.21 to 0.83) · 19,915 casesNo differentJul 2022 – Jun 2024
Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patientsComplications and deaths3.6 · 416 casesNoneApr 2023 – Mar 2025
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)Infections0.869No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
MRSA BacteremiaInfections0.857No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
SSI - Abdominal HysterectomyInfections0.368No differentOct 2024 – Sep 2025
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits16.2 · 247 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits20.5 · 1,021 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for heart attack patientsUnplanned return visits47.8 · 258 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for heart failure patientsUnplanned return visits-1.6 · 990 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Hospital return days for pneumonia patientsUnplanned return visits20.8 · 976 casesNoneJul 2022 – Jun 2025
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission RateUnplanned return visits16.5 · 959 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapyUnplanned return visits5.2 (4.4 to 6.2) · 2,191 casesNo differentJan 2024 – Dec 2024
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacementUnplanned return visits5.1 · 425 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of readmission for CABGUnplanned return visits9.6 · 158 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patientsUnplanned return visits19.6 · 183 casesNoneJul 2023 – Jun 2025
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)Unplanned return visits12.7 (10.4 to 15.4) · 4,578 casesNo differentJan 2022 – Dec 2024

What patients said (6,810 patients answered, 25% of those asked)

Patient survey stars by topic at Stanford Health Care
Cleanliness4
Nurse communication4
Doctor communication4
Communication about medicines3
Discharge information4
Overall hospital rating4
Quietness2
Recommend hospital5
Share of patients giving the best answer at Stanford Health Care
Room was "always" clean75%
Nurses "always" communicated well82%
Doctors "always" communicated well81%
Staff "always" explained63%
Yes, staff "did" give patients this information89%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about help after discharge89%
Doctors "always" explained things so they could understand76%
Doctors "always" listened carefully80%
Doctors "always" treated them with courtesy and respect87%
Patients who gave a rating of "9" or "10" (high)79%
Staff "always" explained new medications76%
Nurses "always" explained things so they could understand77%
Nurses "always" listened carefully79%
Nurses "always" treated them with courtesy and respect88%
"Always" quiet at night53%
"YES", patients would definitely recommend the hospital83%
Staff "always" explained possible side effects50%
Yes, staff "did" give patients information about possible symptoms90%

Original Medicare doctor bills

$4,028

Medicare paid this office $4,028 for 22 people.

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

Who their Medicare patients are

22 Original Medicare patients in 2024. Average age 70 · Health risk score 1.86. Sicker patients than 9 in 10 peers; the typical rheumatology clinician is at 1.38.

Conditions among them: High blood pressure 75%.

The office billed $23,597, Medicare allowed $5,718 and paid $4,028; for 47 services of 3 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
20242247701.86$23,597$4,028
20232340751.20$15,270$2,835
20221741731.53$19,722$2,882
20211737741.18$20,680$2,414
20201129721.78$9,405$1,289
20191937701.24$3,500$2,206
20181733731.93$2,781$1,662
20172349681.76$7,057$2,523
20162359681.38$11,067$3,117
20152240661.22$7,661$2,657
20142252641.08$9,634$3,429
20132360631.06$11,497$3,688

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: 2 services

Original Medicare services billed in 2023
Return visit (30+ min)16$1,737$83
Short return visit (20+ min)15$1,098$58

2021: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2021
Short return visit (20+ min)12$1,068$49

2019: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2019
Return visit (30+ min)16$1,866$60

2018: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2018
Return visit (30+ min)16$1,439$60

2017: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2017
Return visit (30+ min)18$1,847$58

2016: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2016
Return visit (30+ min)17$2,383$58

2015: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2015
Return visit (30+ min)19$2,433$66

2014: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2014
Return visit (30+ min)21$3,342$67

2013: 1 service

Original Medicare services billed in 2013
Return visit (30+ min)21$3,463$63

Drugs they prescribed that Part D paid

$72,377

Pharmacies billed $72,377 in 2024.

This is pharmacy cost, not the office bill, and not what patients paid.

Opioids were 0% of their Part D prescriptions (0 of 104) in 2024. At or below the middle of the specialty; the typical rheumatology clinician is at 3%.

94 generic and fewer than 11 brand-name prescriptions · $72,377 in drug cost.

Part D prescriptions only. The opioid rate is opioid prescriptions as a share of all this clinician's Part D prescriptions; surgeons and pain specialists run higher than others, so it is shown against the same specialty.

Largest Part D drug costs
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate32$796$25
Prednisone13$306$24
Methotrexate13$198$15

Year by year

Part D prescribing by year
2024104180% (0)None$72,377
202398140% (0)14%$87,999
2022105110% (0)17%$118,028
2021128None0% (0)11%$86,608
2020114None0% (0)29%$120,852
2019151140% (0)20%$94,772
2018165180% (0)28%$79,026
2017183160% (0)36%$86,555
2016132110% (0)28%$56,126
2015136120% (0)29%$69,021
2014218150% (0)24%$88,693
2013241180% (0)27%$76,262

Part D prescriptions only. A drug prescribed to fewer than 11 people in a year is hidden.

See the drugs prescribed each year

2023: 3 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2023
Methotrexate17$1,047$62
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate17$888$52
Prednisone14$103$7

2022: 3 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2022
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate20$1,177$59
Methotrexate12$1,176$98
Prednisone16$570$36

2021: 4 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2021
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate29$1,685$58
Prednisone24$528$22
Methotrexate18$337$19
Ibuprofen12$126$11

2020: 3 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2020
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate19$2,009$106
Prednisone27$354$13
Ibuprofen11$181$16

2019: 4 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2019
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate19$1,749$92
Methotrexate19$1,378$73
Prednisone36$353$10
Ibuprofen12$127$11

2018: 4 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2018
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate18$2,842$158
Methotrexate30$2,803$93
Prednisone39$534$14
Ibuprofen14$140$10

2017: 5 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2017
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate24$4,240$177
Leflunomide13$2,865$220
Methotrexate36$2,014$56
Prednisone43$460$11
Ibuprofen12$23$2

2016: 5 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2016
Leflunomide11$3,698$336
Methotrexate29$1,085$37
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate14$1,049$75
Prednisone31$472$15
Ibuprofen11$18$2

2015: 6 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2015
Humira11$35,298$3,209
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate17$2,246$132
Leflunomide14$2,138$153
Methotrexate13$1,703$131
Prednisone30$489$16
Ibuprofen11$127$12

2014: 9 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2014
Humira11$29,322$2,666
Xeljanz12$27,784$2,315
Methotrexate17$1,976$116
Pilocarpine16$1,256$78
Leflunomide22$961$44
Prednisone58$760$13
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate19$378$20
Allopurinol11$152$14
Ibuprofen11$122$11

2013: 8 drugs

Part D drugs prescribed in 2013
Humira12$27,916$2,326
Enbrel11$25,124$2,284
Methotrexate24$2,439$102
Leflunomide19$907$48
Prednisone60$597$10
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate17$270$16
Omeprazole18$150$8
Naproxen11$96$9

Money from drug and device companies

$65 in 2022

Industry payments by year
202222None$65
201911None$108

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
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A.Entyvio$41
1 payment
  • Meals for Entyvio · 2022-05-22 · $41
PfizerCibinqo$24
1 payment
  • Meals for Cibinqo · 2022-03-27 · $24
See all 2 published payments
Every published payment
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A.Meals · 2022-05-22Entyvio$41
PfizerMeals · 2022-03-27Cibinqo$24
See earlier years (2019)

2019: $108

Payments by company in 2019
UcbCimzia$108
1 payment
  • Meals for Cimzia · 2019-11-11 · $108

Checkups this office reported

Medicare did not publish checkup rates for this clinician.

Medicare’s overall office score
76.5 / 100
Scores the office’s reporting and systems. It is not a grade for how the doctor treats you.

Professional record

NPI
1538355375
Licence
CA A89065California A89065: Current · expires 2028-09-30
Trained
State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, 2002
Video visits
Lists video visits
Gender
Female
More record details
Sole proprietor
No
Taxonomy
Federal specialty code 207RR0500X (207RR0500X)
Mailing address
900 Blake Wilbur Dr Rm W20812nd, Palo Alto, CA, 94304
NPI first listed
2007-09-14
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: 300 Pasteur Dr, Palo Alto, CA, 94304