Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Alan Cartmell, M.D.
Optician · Bakersfield, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Cartmell from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
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What this data tells you about Dr. Cartmell
Dr. Alan Cartmell is an optician specialist in Bakersfield, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cartmell performed 31,440 Medicare services across 6,271 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cartmell received a total of $2,261 from 37 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 117 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in optician. Most payments are for meals and travel — low-value interactions common across virtually all practicing physicians. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Cartmell is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 3% volume in CA
$2,261 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗31,440
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for optician
6,271
Unique beneficiaries
$17
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,572 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI contrast dye injection (gadoterate) Administration of gadoterate meglumine, a contrast agent, in a 0.1 ml dose. |
6,800 | $0 | $1 |
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
4,440 | $0 | $1 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
2,498 | $8 | $28 |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level test A blood test that measures the amount of lactate dehydrogenase, an enzyme found in many body tissues. It helps assess tissue damage or disease. |
2,010 | $6 | $22 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
2,005 | $4 | $16 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
1,809 | $8 | $10 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
1,789 | $7 | $24 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
1,769 | $10 | $50 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
799 | $48 | $150 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
598 | $99 | $408 |
| Immunoglobulin level test A blood test that measures the level of gammaglobulins, which are immune system proteins. |
563 | $9 | $33 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
536 | $13 | $49 |
| Transferrin level test A blood test that measures the amount of transferrin, a protein that binds to and transports iron in the body. |
517 | $12 | $46 |
| Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level test A blood test that measures the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) protein. This test is used to monitor certain types of cancer. |
475 | $18 | $68 |
| Iron level test | 473 | $6 | $23 |
| Gadolinium MRI contrast injection Administration of a gadolinium-based contrast agent to enhance magnetic resonance imaging. The dose is measured per milliliter of the agent injected. |
436 | $1 | $6 |
| Automated red blood cell count with calculations A blood test that automatically counts red blood cells and performs additional calculations to assess blood health. |
300 | $5 | $20 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
290 | $15 | $54 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
289 | $14 | $53 |
| Immunologic analysis for detection of tumor antigen, quantitative; ca 15-3 | 240 | $20 | $75 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 201 | $18 | $66 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
194 | $4 | $14 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
187 | $16 | $60 |
| Beta-2 microglobulin level test A blood test that measures the level of beta-2 microglobulin, a protein produced by cells in the body. |
171 | $16 | $58 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting between 20 and 29 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
152 | $64 | $288 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
137 | $9 | $32 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
135 | $141 | $569 |
| Total testosterone level test A blood test that measures the total amount of testosterone in your body. This hormone is important for various bodily functions in both men and women. |
120 | $25 | $77 |
| Fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries | 118 | $286 | $1,077 |
| Coagulation assessment blood test A blood test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. The sample can be plasma or whole blood. |
116 | $6 | $22 |
| Manual urinalysis with microscopic examination A urine test performed manually without automated equipment. The sample is examined under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
112 | $4 | $12 |
| Nuclear medicine scan from skull base to mid-thigh with CT A nuclear medicine imaging study covering the area from the base of the skull to the middle of the thighs, performed alongside a CT scan. |
110 | $1,366 | $5,092 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
72 | $29 | $130 |
| Screening mammography An X-ray of the breast used to detect breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. |
63 | $138 | $591 |
| 3D screening mammography (tomosynthesis) A screening imaging test of the breast using 3D technology to detect potential abnormalities. |
62 | $56 | $174 |
| Prealbumin (protein) level | 54 | $14 | $53 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
48 | $5 | $18 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
48 | $4 | $14 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 47 | $167 | $694 |
| Digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammogram) A specialized imaging test that creates three-dimensional pictures of the breast tissue to help detect abnormalities. |
43 | $38 | $174 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
39 | $119 | $809 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the organs and structures within the abdomen. |
34 | $92 | $394 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
34 | $13 | $48 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
32 | $38 | $150 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
31 | $11 | $52 |
| Technetium Tc-99m medronate diagnostic injection An injection of Technetium Tc-99m medronate used for diagnostic imaging studies. The dose administered is up to 30 millicuries per study. |
30 | $12 | $175 |
| Whole body bone and joint nuclear medicine scan A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses a radioactive tracer to create pictures of the entire skeleton and joints. This scan helps evaluate bone health and detect abnormalities throughout the body. |
29 | $228 | $975 |
| C-reactive protein test (inflammation marker) A blood test that measures the level of C-reactive protein to detect the presence of infection or inflammation in the body. |
26 | $5 | $18 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
23 | $257 | $1,074 |
| Diagnostic mammography of 1 breast An X-ray examination of one breast to evaluate specific breast symptoms or abnormalities. |
23 | $97 | $576 |
| Diagnostic mammography of both breasts | 22 | $117 | $730 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
22 | $168 | $657 |
| Limited ultrasound of 1 breast A focused ultrasound examination of a single breast to evaluate specific areas of concern. |
21 | $74 | $295 |
| Injection, lorazepam, 2 mg | 20 | $1 | $16 |
| Intravenous drug injection A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance directly into a vein. |
19 | $30 | $463 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
18 | $19 | $66 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures. |
17 | $41 | $251 |
| CT scan of chest, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest area that uses X-rays to create detailed images without the use of contrast dye. |
16 | $80 | $667 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
16 | $162 | $632 |
| MRI scan of both breasts A magnetic resonance imaging test that creates detailed pictures of both breasts to help evaluate breast tissue. |
16 | $309 | $1,252 |
| Whole body nuclear medicine scan with CT A combined imaging procedure using nuclear medicine and CT scans to visualize the entire body. |
15 | $1,369 | $5,094 |
| Albumin level test A blood test that measures the amount of albumin, a protein made by the liver, in your body. |
14 | $5 | $18 |
| Total protein blood test A blood test that measures the total amount of protein in your blood. This test helps evaluate your overall health and nutritional status. |
14 | $4 | $13 |
| Basic blood chemical test (calcium, ionized) A blood test that measures basic chemical levels, specifically including calcium and ionized calcium. |
12 | $13 | $41 |
| Total bilirubin level test A blood test that measures the total amount of bilirubin, a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells, in your body. |
12 | $5 | $18 |
| Alkaline phosphatase level test A blood test that measures the level of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme found in the liver and bones. |
12 | $5 | $19 |
| Liver enzyme (SGOT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme SGOT to help assess liver health. |
12 | $5 | $19 |
| Liver enzyme (SGPT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme SGPT to assess liver function. |
12 | $5 | $19 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
12 | $43 | $178 |
| Complete ultrasound of retroperitoneum An ultrasound examination of the structures located behind the abdominal cavity. |
11 | $85 | $364 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
0.1% high complexity
38.4% medium
61.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$2,261
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $323/year across 7 years
Top 35% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
37
Companies
117
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$2,261 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$855
2023
$731
2022
$205
2021
$54
2020
$60
2019
$227
2018
$129
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$257
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$178
Exelixis Inc.
$106
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$85
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$32
Blueprint Medicines Corporation
$27
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$24
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$23
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$22
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
ABBVIE INC.
$20
PFIZER INC.
$17
Lilly USA, LLC
$15
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Eisai Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 63.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$353
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$342
Exelixis Inc.
$165
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$157
Celgene Corporation
$131
Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company
$99
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$74
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$72
Amgen Inc.
$67
Pharmacyclics LLC, An AbbVie Company
$65
PFIZER INC.
$63
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$57
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$56
Genentech USA, Inc.
$50
BeiGene USA, Inc.
$33
GENZYME CORPORATION
$32
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$30
Blueprint Medicines Corporation
$27
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$24
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
ImmunoGen, Inc.
$23
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$23
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$22
EMD Serono, Inc.
$20
Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.
$20
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$20
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
Seagen Inc.
$20
ABBVIE INC.
$20
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$19
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$19
SOBI, INC
$17
Lilly USA, LLC
$15
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Eisai Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 38.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADCETRIS · ALUNBRIG · AYVAKIT · Alecensa · BENDEKA · BRUKINSA · CABLIVI · CABOMETYX · DARZALEX · Doptelet · EMPLICITI · EPKINLY · Elahere · Erleada · IMBRUVICA · INJECTAFER · INLYTA · JEMPERLI · KRAZATI · Kyprolis · LIBTAYO · LUTATHERA · Lenvima · MVASI · MYLOTARG · Nplate · OJJAARA · OPDIVO · OPDUALAG · PADCEV · PLUVICTO · POTELIGEO · PROMACTA · Padcev · Pomalyst · QINLOCK · REBLOZYL · Revlimid · SANCUSO · SCEMBLIX · SUTENT · TAGRISSO · TEPMETKO · Tavalisse · ULTOMIRIS · VENCLEXTA · VERZENIO · VYXEOS · Vanflyta · WILATE - VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR/COAGULATION FACTOR VIII COMPLEX (HUMAN) · ZEJULA
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
Most payments (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
61
Per 100K population
6.7
County median income
$67,660
Nearest hospital
BAKERSFIELD BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL, LLC
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Cartmell is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Cartmell experienced with mri contrast dye injection (gadoterate)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Cartmell performed 6,800 mri contrast dye injection (gadoterate) services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Cartmell receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Cartmell received a total of $2,261 from 37 companies across 117 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Cartmell's costs compare to other opticians in Bakersfield?
Dr. Cartmell's average Medicare payment per service is $17. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Cartmell) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. Data Coverage reflects data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
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