Duke Health Provider question
I strive to provide the best-personalized care for my patients, consistent with their goals and preferences, and to help them get back to enjoying the things that bring them joy in their life.
– Richard C. Mather III, MD, MBA

Richard C. Mather III, MD, MBA

Hip Arthroscopist, Hip Specialist, Orthopaedic Surgeon

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
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Where I See Patients
James R. Urbaniak, MD, Sports Sciences Institute - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
I strive to provide the best-personalized care for my patients, consistent with their goals and preferences, and to help them get back to enjoying the things that bring them joy in their life.
– Richard C. Mather III, MD, MBA

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About Me

I got an early start in sports medicine working with my father. He is a veterinarian for racehorses, and I always say I followed in my dad's footsteps - just in a different species! I was drawn to orthopaedic surgery by the importance I place on enjoying a functional, productive life. Living without pain and being able to pursue the things that bring you joy is much of the essence of life. Thus, my first question for my patients is what they do for work and for fun. My goal is to help you regain productivity and joy in your life. In addition, I have a great interest in personalized care and aligning care decisions with the goals and preferences of each individual patient. In addition, I made a deliberate decision to focus solely on hip preservation surgery to gain a deep understanding of the hip and its function and the skills to deliver the best possible outcomes to my patients.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

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Ratings and Reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Learn more about our survey process. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.

Overall Provider Rating
4.88 out of 5
105 ratings, 21 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship
Sports Medicine, Rush University Medical Center (Illinois), 2011
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, 2010
Education
MD, Duke University School of Medicine, 2005
MBA, Duke University Fuqua School of Business, 2015

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

I am an assistant professor and the vice chairman of practice transformation in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke University School of Medicine. I also have faculty appointments in the Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and the Duke Clinical Research Institute. I direct the orthopaedic practice transformation unit (PTU) that seeks to transform how we care for patients organizationally, financially, and technologically to improve the value of health care and its experience. Through a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, administrators, and researchers, the PTU is able to characterize, implement, and iterate solutions through new care models, payment models, and technology. I am also a decision scientist, performing research in patient preferences and shared decision making with the goal of personalizing care and helping my patients make the best decisions for themselves. Lastly, I perform research on biomarkers, dynamic imaging of the hip and hip arthroscopy outcomes.

Publications and Grants

Insurance Accepted

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.

    • Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
    • Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
    • Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
    • Aetna HMO
    • Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
    • Aetna Managed Choice POS
    • Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
    • Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
    • Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
    • Aetna Open Choice PPO
    • Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
    • Aetna Select HMO
    • Aetna Traditional Choice
    • Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
    • Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
    • Aetna/CVS Health
    • Ambetter of North Carolina
    • Blue Advantage
    • Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
    • Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
    • Blue Select
    • NC State Employees Health Plan
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

    • Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
    • Cigna Choice Plus
    • Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
    • Cigna Open Access
    • Cigna Open Access Plus
    • *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.

    • Duke Basic
    • Duke Select
    • Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
  • Gateway Health Alliance
  • Healthgram
    • Humana Choice (PPO)
    • Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
    • Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
    • Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
  • MedCost
    • First Medicare Direct
    • Medicare Part A
    • Medicare Part B
    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue
    • NC Medicaid Direct
    • WellCare of North Carolina
    • TRICARE Prime
    • TRICARE Prime Remote
    • TRICARE Select
    • AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
    • AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
    • AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
    • All Savers Alternate Funding
    • All Savers Fully Insured
    • United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)**
    • United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
    • United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
    • United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
    • United Healthcare Option PPO
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
    • United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
    • United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
    • United Medical Resources (UMR)
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

    • **Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

External Relationships

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.
  • Optum
  • Pattern Health Technologies
  • RTI Surgical, Inc.
  • SCA Health
  • Stryker Corp