Private cardiology care built on continuity, clarity, and trust.
Know Your Heart. Own Your Health.
A more personal, relationship-based cardiology practice for patients who value direct access, thoughtful guidance, and long-term cardiovascular care.
Santa Barbara Local
Experienced Leadership
Prior physician leadership and committee service within the Cottage system.
Personal Approach
Relationship-based cardiology centered on judgment, communication, and continuity.
About
Vishal Goyal, MD
Dr. Vishal Goyal is a board-certified cardiologist who has cared for patients in the Santa Barbara community for more than a decade. Over the course of his career, he has served in multiple clinical and physician leadership roles, including Medical Director positions at Cottage and prior leadership within Santa Barbara Cardiovascular Medical Group. He was also recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Santa Barbara Cottage Internal Medicine Residency, an honor that reflects both clinical excellence and a gift for clear, thoughtful communication.
Dr. Goyal was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honors medical society, graduated from medical school with distinction in community service, and served as Chief Fellow during his cardiovascular fellowship. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
He founded Riviera Cardiology to offer a more personal and relationship-based approach to heart care — one built on time, access, continuity, and careful clinical judgment. His goal is to help patients feel informed, supported, and truly known, while receiving cardiovascular care with expertise, clarity, and compassion.
Approach
Access. Communication. Expertise.
Exceptional cardiology care begins with access, clear communication, and the confidence that comes from deep expertise.
Access
Timely appointments and direct communication when questions or concerns arise.
Communication
Clear, thoughtful discussion of your condition, test results, and treatment options—without being rushed.
Expertise
Specialized cardiovascular care grounded in experience, careful analysis, and long-term perspective.
Who This Practice is For
For patients who value clarity—not just treatment.
Do you…
- want a closer relationship with your cardiologist?
- value continuity and direct communication?
- prefer a more proactive and thoughtful approach to your health?
- want to understand your condition—not just be treated for it?
A central focus of this practice is helping patients better understand their cardiovascular health—what their condition means, how their tests fit together, and how treatments influence outcomes. Many patients find that this clarity leads to greater confidence, better decisions, and improved long-term outcomes.
Practice Model
Membership-based care, designed around continuity.
The practice offers a membership-based model for ongoing cardiovascular care, as well as a limited number of independent cardiovascular consultations.
Additional details regarding membership options, consultation availability, and opening timeline will be shared directly with interested patients.
MEMBERSHIP
Designed for patients who want a closer outpatient relationship, better access, and more personalized cardiovascular care.
Standard
For patients who want a closer outpatient relationship, better access, and more personalized cardiovascular care.
$99
/month
Membership Includes:
- Longer, less rushed visits
- Direct communication with your cardiologist
- Review of outside records, labs, and cardiac testing
- Personalized treatment plans and prevention strategies
- Coordination with other physicians when appropriate
- Support during hospitalization through communication and care coordination
- Timely follow-up after hospital discharge
Premier
Premier Membership is designed for patients who want not only access, but deeper continuity and support when it matters most.
$399
/month
Includes Everything in Standard, PLUS:
- Highest-priority scheduling and communication
- Proactive follow-up and periodic check-ins
- Annual comprehensive cardiovascular strategy review
- Enhanced coordination with other treating physicians when appropriate
- Review and synthesis of complex outside records, consultations, and treatment plans
- Added support during urgent or high-stakes cardiac issues
- In-person hospital visits when feasible and clinically appropriate
- Closer support during transitions of care after hospitalization, procedures, or emergency visits
Consultation
Independent Cardiovascular Consultation
For patients seeking a focused second opinion or comprehensive cardiovascular review, a limited consultation option is available.
This practice is designed to complement—not replace—primary care and emergency services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I park when visiting the office?
There are several convenient parking options near the office. Curbside space immediately in front of the office is designated for commercial loading and unloading, but it may be used briefly for patient drop-off or pick-up where permitted. A few 15-minute parking spaces are also located nearby, though they are often occupied.
For appointments, the most reliable options are the private metered lot behind the Santa Barbara Public Market or the City public parking lot at Victoria Court, also known as Lot 5, located across the street at the corner of Victoria and Chapala. At the time of this document, Lot 5 offers 75 minutes of free parking, making it a convenient option for most visits.
Do you accept insurance?
No. Riviera Cardiology Concierge is a private-pay cardiology practice. We do not participate with commercial insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medi-Cal, or other government insurance programs.
This allows the practice to focus on access, communication, education, and individualized cardiovascular care rather than insurance-driven visit limits, documentation requirements, and prior authorization constraints.
Will you bill my insurance?
No. We do not bill insurance companies directly, and we do not submit claims on a patient’s behalf.
Membership fees and any direct practice fees are paid directly to Riviera Cardiology Concierge.
Can I submit your fees to my insurance company for reimbursement?
You may contact your insurance company to ask whether any portion of your expenses may be reimbursable, but we cannot guarantee reimbursement.
In general, concierge membership fees are typically not covered by insurance. Some insurers may consider reimbursement for certain specific medical services depending on your out-of-network benefits, plan rules, and documentation requirements, but this varies widely by plan.
Will I receive a receipt?
We provide receipts for payments made to the practice, but we do not provide insurance billing services or guarantee that our fees are reimbursable by your insurer.
Do you accept Medicare?
No. Riviera Cardiology Concierge does not bill Medicare. Neither Riviera Cardiology Concierge nor Dr. Goyal are enrolled as Medicare providers.
For Medicare beneficiaries, this means Medicare will not pay for services provided directly by the practice. Medicare beneficiaries who become concierge members will be asked to sign the required Medicare private contract acknowledging that the practice does not bill Medicare and that Medicare will not reimburse the patient for services provided directly by the practice.
If I have Medicare, can I still join?
Yes. Medicare beneficiaries may join the practice, but they must sign the required Medicare private contract before receiving services directly from the practice.
That contract acknowledges that the patient accepts financial responsibility for the practice’s charges, that Medicare limits do not apply to what the practice may charge, and that neither the practice nor the patient will submit claims to Medicare for services provided under the private contract.
Can I use HSA or FSA funds?
You should check with your tax advisor, HSA/FSA administrator, or benefits plan before using those funds.
Because concierge membership fees can be treated differently from specific medical services, Riviera Cardiology Concierge cannot advise whether your membership fee or any other practice fee is HSA- or FSA-eligible.
What should I do in an emergency?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Riviera Cardiology Concierge does not replace emergency medical services, emergency department care, or hospital-based care.
After you have obtained emergency care, you or your family may contact the practice so that Dr. Goyal can help with communication, records review, and follow-up planning when appropriate.
What happens if I am hospitalized?
If you are hospitalized, your hospital care will be provided through the hospital, emergency department, hospitalists, inpatient cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other facility-based clinicians as appropriate.
Riviera Cardiology Concierge is designed to provide continuity, advocacy, communication, and cardiovascular guidance during those episodes, but it does not replace emergency care or hospital-based medical services.
Will Dr. Goyal see me in the hospital?
Depending on your membership tier, the hospital, the clinical situation, Dr. Goyal’s hospital privileges, the location of the hospital, and Dr. Goyal’s availability, Dr. Goyal may visit you in the hospital, communicate with your hospital team, review your cardiovascular history, help clarify the plan, and assist with follow-up after discharge.
Hospital involvement is subject to hospital policies, physician privileges, availability, and the clinical circumstances of the hospitalization.
Will Dr. Goyal be my admitting doctor?
No. In most cases, hospital admissions are managed by the hospital’s admitting physicians, hospitalists, emergency physicians, or inpatient specialists.
Dr. Goyal’s role is to help support continuity and cardiovascular decision-making, not to replace the hospital team.
If I am hospitalized, will my insurance still be used?
Yes. Hospital, emergency room, lab, imaging, facility, anesthesia, hospitalist, and other inpatient charges are separate from your membership with Riviera Cardiology Concierge.
Those services are billed by the hospital, facility, or other clinicians according to their own insurance contracts and billing practices.
Will I receive separate hospital bills?
Yes. Hospital-based care is separate from Riviera Cardiology Concierge. You may receive bills from the hospital, facility, emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, hospitalists, consultants, or other clinicians involved in your care.
Your membership fee does not cover hospital facility charges, emergency room charges, inpatient physician charges, procedures, imaging, lab testing, medications, or other third-party services.
What does the membership fee cover?
The membership fee supports a limited-panel cardiology model with enhanced access, more time for visits, direct communication, longitudinal cardiovascular planning, medication review, care coordination, and a more personalized relationship with your cardiologist.
Specific included services depend on the membership tier selected.
Why is this practice not insurance-based?
Insurance-based medicine often limits time, access, and communication. Riviera Cardiology Concierge is structured to allow longer visits, deeper discussion, proactive planning, and easier communication between visits.
The goal is to provide a more thoughtful and accessible cardiology experience.
Does this replace my primary care doctor?
No. Riviera Cardiology Concierge is a cardiology practice, not a primary care practice. Riviera Cardiology Concierge focuses on cardiovascular prevention, diagnosis, treatment planning, risk assessment, second opinions, longitudinal heart care, and coordination with your broader medical team.
You should continue to maintain a relationship with your primary care physician for general preventive care, non-cardiac medical issues, vaccinations, age-appropriate cancer screening, and routine primary care needs.
Will you coordinate with my other doctors?
Yes. A major goal of the practice is better communication and coordination. With your permission, we can communicate with your primary care physician, specialists, hospital physicians, and other members of your care team.
Can I still see other cardiologists?
Yes. You are always free to seek care from any physician or specialist. If you need a subspecialty cardiology opinion, electrophysiology care, interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, advanced imaging, or another specialized service, Dr. Goyal can help guide and coordinate referrals.
Are procedures included in the membership fee?
No. Procedures, hospital services, facility fees, imaging studies, lab tests, medications, and services provided by outside clinicians or facilities are not included in the membership fee.
If you need testing or a procedure, Dr. Goyal will help guide you through the decision-making process and coordinate care, but the actual service may be billed separately by the hospital, imaging center, lab, procedural facility, or treating clinician.
Will I get a separate bill for a procedure at the hospital?
Yes, you should expect that any hospital-based procedures may generate separate bills. These may include facility charges, professional fees including charges from radiologists and pathologists, anesthesia, imaging, pathology, device-related charges, lab charges, and other services connected with the procedure.
Those charges are separate from your membership fee and are billed by the hospital, facility, or clinicians involved in the procedure. For non-urgent procedures, patients are encouraged to ask the hospital or facility in advance how the procedure will be billed and whether the relevant clinicians and facility are in-network.
If Dr. Goyal orders an echocardiogram, stress test, CT scan, lab test, or other study, will my insurance cover it?
Outside tests ordered through an outside facility may be billed by that facility to your insurance or Medicare, depending on your insurance plan and the facility’s contracts and status as a Medicare provider if you are covered by Medicare.
Riviera Cardiology Concierge does not control whether an outside facility, hospital, imaging center, or lab is in-network with your insurance or Medicare. Patients are encouraged to confirm coverage directly with their insurance plan before completing any non-urgent testing.
Will I have to pay out of pocket for tests?
It depends on your insurance or Medicare plan, deductible, network, and the facility performing the test.
The practice fee covers Dr. Goyal’s professional time, access, communication, care planning, and care coordination. It does not include third-party testing, facility charges, or services provided by outside clinicians.
Disclaimer
This FAQ is intended to provide general information about Riviera Cardiology Concierge and does not replace the terms of the membership agreement, Medicare private contract, or any other applicable written agreement. Insurance, Medicare, HSA/FSA, and tax rules vary by patient and plan. Patients should contact their insurer, benefits administrator, Medicare advisor, or tax professional for guidance specific to their situation.
Request Information
Know Your Heart.
Own Your Health.
Location & Contact Info
Santa Barbara Office
8 West Victoria St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone
805-500-4556
eFax
805-975-1789
If you would like information about membership options, consultations, or early availability, please submit your contact information below.
Limited founding availability may be available for established patients transitioning from Dr. Goyal’s prior practice.
Please do not include urgent medical concerns or sensitive health information in this form.
