Dr. Melissa A. Cunningham, MD/PHD
Rheumatology (Rheumatology Physician)
- Medicare participating
At a glance
- Medical school
- Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine (2006)
- Years since graduation
- 20
- In the NPI registry since
- 2006
- Medicare patients seen, 2024
- 91
The NPI date is when this clinician registered for a National Provider Identifier, the billing number used on health claims. It is not a license, graduation or board-certification date. NPIs were first issued in May 2005 and became required on claims in 2007–2008, so an early date usually means the clinician was already in practice before then. What an NPI is
Education and training
- 2006Medical school: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
- 2006Registered with an NPI (national billing number; not a license date) — NPIs began in 2005, so practice likely started earlier
Undergraduate school, residency, fellowship, licensing exams and board certification aren’t in public federal data. Board certification can be confirmed with the certifying board (ABMS member boards for MDs, AOA boards for DOs).
Specialties and state licenses
-
Rheumatology Physician primary
SC license 28966 -
Internal Medicine Physician
SC license LL28966
As reported to the NPI registry. To confirm a license is current, check the state medical board.
Where they work
Hospitals
- Musc Medical Center Charleston, SC
- Musc Health Florence Medical Center Florence, SC
Medical groups
- University Medical Associates of the Medical University of South Carol (1,668 clinicians)
Hospitals this clinician lists with Medicare, and groups they bill Medicare through (Care Compare). Affiliation doesn’t mean they see patients at every location.
Medicare patients and services
- Medicare patients, 2024
- 91
- Services billed
- 4,364
- Patients’ average age
- 67
| Service | Times | Patients |
|---|---|---|
| Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-39 minutes | 90 | 67 |
Medicare fee-for-service only. CMS leaves out services billed for fewer than 11 patients. These figures describe a practice’s Medicare work; they aren’t a measure of quality.
Medicare prescriptions
| Drug | Prescriptions |
|---|---|
| Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 197 |
| Prednisone Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 87 |
| Amlodipine Besylate Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 36 |
| Methotrexate (methotrexate sodium) Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 33 |
| Mycophenolate Mofetil Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 30 |
| Orencia Clickject (abatacept) | 25 |
| Triamcinolone Acetonide Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 24 |
| Lisinopril Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 19 |
| Leflunomide Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 18 |
| Omeprazole Other prescribers in Charleston, SC | 18 |
Prescriptions filled under Medicare Part D, including refills. CMS leaves out drugs prescribed fewer than 11 times.
Payments from drug and device companies
In 2025, 4 companies reported 9 payments worth $389 in total to this clinician.
| Amgen Inc. | $147 |
|---|---|
| Genzyme Corporation | $109 |
| Janssen Biotech, Inc. | $99.99 |
| UCB, Inc. | $32.92 |
| Food and Beverage | $289 |
|---|---|
| Education | $99.99 |
What the payments were for
| Company | What it was for | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Janssen Biotech, Inc. Dec 18, 2025 | Education TREMFYA · Immunology · in-kind | $99.99 |
Each payment as the company reported it, with the products it named. Meals are counted in the totals above but not listed one by one.
From CMS Open Payments. A payment is not evidence of wrongdoing; many are for consulting, teaching or meals. Clinicians can review and dispute their records with CMS.
Industry-funded research
Named as a principal investigator on 1 industry-funded study in 2025, from 1 company. The companies reported $17,906 in research payments for these studies, mostly to the institutions running them.
- LUPKYNIS Registry Study
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
From CMS Open Payments research payments, where companies name up to five principal investigators per payment. Research payments usually go to hospitals, universities and research sites, not to the investigator personally. A payment is not evidence of wrongdoing.