Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Emma McDonnell

Ophthalmology · Chula Vista, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
835 THIRD AVE STE A, Chula Vista, CA 91911
6194257755
In practice since 2013 (13 years)
NPI: 1023357670 verify on NPPES ↗
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. McDonnell 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. McDonnell

Dr. Emma McDonnell is an ophthalmology specialist in Chula Vista, CA, with 13 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. McDonnell performed 3,943 Medicare services across 1,830 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. McDonnell received a total of $1,581 from 10 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 43 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. 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. McDonnell 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.

✓ 13 years in practice ▲ Top 26% volume in CA $1,581 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
3,943
Medicare services
Top 26% in CA for ophthalmology
1,830
Unique beneficiaries
$76
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~303 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
Botox injection, per unit
An injection of onabotulinumtoxinA, a medication used to temporarily relax muscles or reduce gland activity. The dose is measured in units, with this code representing a single unit administered.
1,976 $5 $20
Eye photography
Photographic imaging of the interior structures of the eye.
522 $18 $100
Eye exam, established patient, focused
A limited examination of the visual system for an existing patient. The provider focuses on a specific eye-related concern or symptom.
408 $76 $145
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.
300 $59 $120
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.
235 $94 $175
Removal of excessive skin and fat of upper eyelid 109 $707 $3,583
Upper eyelid tendon repair
Surgical repair of the tendon in the upper eyelid to restore its function and structure.
72 $739 $3,833
Upper eyelid muscle shortening or advancement
A surgical procedure to shorten or advance the upper eyelid muscle. It is performed to correct drooping or paralysis of the eyelid.
46 $583 $5,674
Visual field test, extended
A test that maps your complete field of vision to detect blind spots or peripheral vision loss. Extended testing provides a more detailed assessment than a standard visual field exam.
41 $48 $180
Chemical nerve block for facial paralysis
Injection of a chemical agent to paralyze specific nerves or muscles on the side of the face.
38 $129 $460
Eyelid growth removal
A procedure to remove a growth from the eyelid.
35 $229 $500
Extensive repair of turning-outward eyelid defect
A surgical procedure to correct an eyelid that turns outward. The repair addresses defects in the eyelid structure to restore normal function and appearance.
31 $398 $2,613
New patient office visit (45-59 min)
An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter.
31 $132 $260
Dilation of tear drainage opening
A procedure to widen the opening of the tear drainage system to improve the flow of tears from the eye.
28 $90 $679
Brow paralysis repair
Surgical procedure to correct paralysis of the eyebrow muscles. This intervention aims to restore position and function to the affected area.
15 $458 $2,233
Insertion of probe into nasal tear duct 15 $183 $1,333
New patient office visit (30-44 min)
An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range.
15 $73 $180
Extensive repair of turning-inward eyelid defect
A surgical procedure to correct an eyelid that turns inward. The repair addresses defects in the eyelid structure to restore normal function and appearance.
14 $418 $2,307
Nasal tear duct probing with tube or stent insertion
A procedure to open a blocked tear duct by probing the area and inserting a tube or stent to maintain drainage.
12 $139 $850
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.
0.3% high complexity
50.1% medium
49.6% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$1,581
Total received (2019-2024)
Avg $316/year across 5 years
Top 48% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
10
Companies
43
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
$1,581 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$668
2023
$169
2022
$279
2021
$328
2019
$137

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$233
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$207
Alcon Vision LLC
$131
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$33
Harrow Eye, LLC
$27
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$21
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$16
Top 3 companies account for 85.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2019-2024) ›
Alcon Vision LLC
$603
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$233
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$232
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$202
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$140
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$77
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$33
Harrow Eye, LLC
$27
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$14
Top 3 companies account for 67.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · ARGOS · AcrySof · Centurion · Cequa · Clareon · MIEBO · OMNI SURGICAL SYSTEM · OMNI(R) SURGICAL SYSTEM (US) · RYZUMVI · TEPEZZA · TYRVAYA · VEVYE · VYZULTA · XIIDRA
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.

Looking for an ophthalmology specialist in Chula Vista?
Compare ophthalmologists in the Chula Vista area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse ophthalmologists nearby

Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
238
Per 100K population
7.2
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
SHARP CHULA VISTA MEDICAL CENTER
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. McDonnell is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 26% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement.

This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. McDonnell experienced with botox injection, per unit?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. McDonnell performed 1,976 botox injection, per unit 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. McDonnell receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. McDonnell received a total of $1,581 from 10 companies across 43 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. McDonnell's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Chula Vista?
Dr. McDonnell's average Medicare payment per service is $76. 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. McDonnell) 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 →
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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →