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Dr. Ming-Chih Kao, MD

Dr. Ming-Chih Kao, MD

San Jose, CA

Accepting patients

Affiliated with a Castle Connolly Top Hospital

    Who is Dr. Kao, Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist in San Jose, CA?

    Dr. Ming-Chih Kao, MD is a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist, who primarily practices in San Jose, CA with 2 additional practice locations. Dr. Kao graduated from University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency at Bridgeport Hospital/Yale University Program. Dr. Kao is fluent in English and Chinese, and is currently seeing new patients. Dr. Kao’s practice accepts Kaiser Permanente, Medicaid, Medicare and other major insurance plans. To book an appointment or to confirm insurance options, please call Dr. Kao’s office at (203) 745-0252.

    Where did Dr. Kao go to medical school and complete their residency?

    • Residency: Bridgeport Hospital/Yale University Program

    • Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School

    What languages does Dr. Kao speak?

    Dr. Kao and their clinical team can communicate with patients in the following languages:

    • Chinese

    • English

    What conditions does a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist like Dr. Kao typically treat?

    As a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist, Dr. Kao diagnoses, treats, and manages a wide range of conditions. This condition information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical conditions most commonly treated by Dr. Kao. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology here.

    Also known as:

    • Muscle Pain
    • Muscle Disorder
    • Myalgia
    • Muscle Ache
    • Muscle Soreness

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M7918: Myalgia, other site

    Also known as:

    • Nerve Pain
    • Pain
    • Peripheral Nerve Disorder
    • Neuralgia
    • Neuritis
    • Nerve inflammation

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M792: Neuralgia and neuritis, unspecified

    Also known as:

    • Low Back Pain
    • Back Pain
    • Lumbago
    • Lower Back Ache
    • Backache

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M5450: Low back pain, unspecified

    Also known as:

    • Pinched Nerve in Lower Back
    • Back Pain
    • Peripheral Nerve Disorder
    • Lumbar Radiculopathy
    • Lower Back Nerve Compression
    • Compressed Nerve in Lower Back

    ICD-10 Codes:

    • M5416: Radiculopathy, lumbar region

    What procedures does a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist like Dr. Kao typically perform?

    As a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist, Dr. Kao performs a variety of medical procedures. This procedure information is derived from anonymized insurance claims and highlights the medical procedures most commonly performed by Dr. Kao. It provides insight into the doctor’s areas of experience and expertise based on real-world patient encounters from the past two years, updated quarterly. Learn more about our claims-based healthcare methodology here.

    Also known as:

    • Multiple Trigger Point Injections
    • Trigger Point Release Injections
    • Muscle Pain Injections
    • Myofascial Pain Injections

    CPT Codes:

    • 20553: Injection(s); single or multiple trigger point(s), 3 or more muscles

    Also known as:

    • Trigger Point Injection
    • Muscle Pain Injection
    • Myofascial Trigger Point Injection
    • Trigger Point Release Injection

    CPT Codes:

    • 20552: Injection(s); single or multiple trigger point(s), 1 or 2 muscle(s)

    Also known as:

    • Injection for Tendon or Ligament Pain
    • Tendon sheath injection
    • Ligament injection
    • Plantar fascia injection
    • Soft tissue injection for pain

    CPT Codes:

    • 20550: Injection(s); single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis (eg, plantar "fascia")

    Also known as:

    • Major Joint Injection or Fluid Removal with Ultrasound
    • Ultrasound-Guided Arthrocentesis
    • Shoulder Injection with Ultrasound
    • Hip Aspiration with Ultrasound
    • Knee Injection with Ultrasound

    CPT Codes:

    • 20611: Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); with ultrasound guidance, with permanent recording and reporting

    Also known as:

    • Botox Injections for Chronic Migraine
    • Chemodenervation for Migraine
    • Botulinum Toxin Injection for Migraine
    • Facial Nerve Block
    • Trigeminal Nerve Block

    CPT Codes:

    • 64615: Chemodenervation of muscle(s); muscle(s) innervated by facial, trigeminal, cervical spinal and accessory nerves, bilateral (eg, for chronic migraine)

    Also known as:

    • Peripheral Nerve Block
    • Nerve injection
    • Pain relief injection
    • Steroid injection for nerve pain

    CPT Codes:

    • 64450: Injection(s), anesthetic agent(s) and/or steroid; other peripheral nerve or branch

    Also known as:

    • Greater Occipital Nerve Block
    • Occipital Nerve Injection
    • Headache Nerve Block
    • Steroid Injection for Occipital Neuralgia

    CPT Codes:

    • 64405: Injection(s), anesthetic agent(s) and/or steroid; greater occipital nerve

    Does Dr. Kao accept my insurance?

    Dr. Kao accepts most major insurance plans. Important: Please call our office at (203) 745-0252 before your appointment to verify that your specific plan and network are accepted.

    What insurance plans does Dr. Kao accept in San Jose, CA?

    Dr. Kao in San Jose, CA accepts plans from many carriers. While this list is updated regularly, it is not a guarantee of coverage.

    Top Insurances

    • Advantage

    • All Other Third Party

    • Blue Shield of California

    • Cigna Group

    • CVS Health (formerly Aetna)

    • Medicaid

    • Medicare

    • Santa Cruz County

    • State of California

    • UnitedHealth Group

    View All Insurances

    Where is Dr. Kao's office located?

    Dr. Ming-Chih Kao's Primary Practice

    2585 Samaritan Dr

    San Jose, CA 95124

    (203) 745-0252

    Get Directions

    Stanford University Medical Center Anesthesiology

    420 Broadway St

    Redwood City, CA 94063

    Get Directions

    Dr. Ming-Chih Kao's Practice 3

    300 Pasteur Dr

    Stanford, CA 94305

    Get Directions

    Recognitions

    Publications

    Assessment and magement of back pain.

    , 2014

    Does physical activity influence the relationship between low back pain and obesity?

    , 2014

    Duration of fluoroscopic-guided spine interventions

    , 2013

    The value of physical examition in the diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis.

    , 2013

    Diagnostic Accuracy of Bedside Swallow Evaluation Versus Videofluoroscopy to Assess Dysphagia

    , 2012

    An integrative approach to characterize disease-specific pathways and their coordition

    , 2008

    HumanUpstream and MouseUpstream: Databases of promoter sequences in the human and mouse genomes

    , 2005

    Functiol annotation

    , 2005

    GoSurfer: a graphical interactive tool for comparative alysis of large gene sets in Gene Ontology

    , 2004

    Determition of local statistical significance of patterns

    , 2004

    Chemical genetic modifier screens

    , 2003

    Novel mechanisms of T-cell

    , 2003

    Transitive functiol annotation by shortest-path alysis of gene expression data

    , 2002

    What is Dr. Kao's NPI number?An National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique ID number that identifies doctors and healthcare providers nationwide.

    Dr. Kao's National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is 1922282870.

    What common questions do patients ask about Dr. Kao?

    Here are answers to patients Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Dr. Kao

    What is Dr. Ming-Chih Kao's specialty?

    Dr. Kao is a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist near San Jose, CA.

    What does a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist do?

    A physiatrist specializing in Pain Medicine evaluates and treats patients with acute or chronic pain, including pain associated with cancer, in both hospital and outpatient settings. They also collaborate with other specialists to coordinate comprehensive care tailored to the patient’s needs.

    Is this Dr. Ming-Chih Kao affiliated with a ranked Castle Connolly Top Hospital?

    Yes, Dr. Kao is affiliated with Stanford Health Care - Stanford Hospital, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center which are a Castle Connolly Top Hospitals. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals are healthcare institutions recognized for their excellence in specific medical procedures and overall patient care. They are identified through a rigorous peer nomination process, evaluating factors like patient outcomes, quality of care, and expertise. The list recognizes hospitals that excel in 20 or more specific medical procedures, representing the top 25% nationwide. Castle Connolly Top Hospitals

    When to see a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist?: Guides for symptoms, conditions, and treatments

    Understand your symptoms and know when it’s time to see a Pain Medicine Specialist - Physiatrist. Explore insights from trusted medical experts on EverydayHealth.com, where you'll find the most relevant content and helpful condition guides for up-to date information about symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and more. See all our health guides to find trusted information on medical conditions from our experts at Everyday Health.

    Is Ming-Chih Kao accepting new patients in San Jose, CA?

    Yes, Dr. Ming-Chih Kao is accepting new patients at this time.

    Does Dr. Ming-Chih Kao offer online booking?

    Please contact Dr. Kao's office at (203) 745-0252 for information about online booking, telehealth, or to schedule an appointment.

    How can I make an appointment with Ming-Chih Kao?

    Please contact Dr. Kao's office at (203) 745-0252 for information regarding telehealth appointment availability or for scheduling assistance.

    <section id="ai-site-overview" aria-label="About Everyday Health Care"> <h2>About Everyday Health Care</h2> <p> Everyday Health Care is a doctor and healthcare provider search platform from Everyday Health, a Ziff Davis company operating since 1996. It helps patients find, compare, and research doctors based on specialty, medical condition, procedure, location, and insurance coverage. </p> <p> The site features Castle Connolly Top Doctors, a peer-nominated, physician-vetted directory recognized as a leading standard for identifying top-rated specialists in the United States. Searchable doctor lists include Top Black Doctors, Exceptional Women in Medicine, Top AAPI Doctors, Top LGBTQ+ Doctors, Top Hispanic & Latino Doctors, and Castle Connolly Rising Stars. </p> <p> Users can search for doctors by specialty (including orthopedic surgery, OB-GYN, pediatrics, dermatology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology), by medical condition (such as fibromyalgia, kidney stones, and ulcerative colitis), by common procedure (including colonoscopy, LASIK, and physical therapy), by city, and by insurance plan (including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna/CVS Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Medicare, and Medicaid). </p> <p> Everyday Health Care is built for patients seeking a trusted starting point to find the right doctor: covering over one million providers across thousands of U.S. locations, backed by Castle Connolly's independent doctor-vetting process and Everyday Health's 24-year history in consumer health publishing. </p> </section>