Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Barton Wachs, M.D.

Optician · Long Beach, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology — Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
701 E 28TH ST, Long Beach, CA 90806
5625955977
In practice since 2006 (19 years)
NPI: 1366461832 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. Wachs 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. Wachs

Dr. Barton Wachs is an optician specialist in Long Beach, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Wachs performed 1,464 Medicare services across 975 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Wachs received a total of $12,382 from 63 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 363 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. Wachs 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.

✓ 19 years in practice ▲ Top 44% volume in CA $12,382 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
1,464
Medicare services
Top 44% in CA for optician
975
Unique beneficiaries
$49
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~77 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
Urinalysis, manual
A manual laboratory examination of a urine sample to check for various substances and cells.
485 $3 $6
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.
484 $70 $125
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.
130 $82 $200
Ceftriaxone antibiotic injection
This code represents the administration of ceftriaxone sodium, an antibiotic medication. The charge is calculated for every 250 mg of the drug administered.
61 $0 $7
Office visit for established patient
An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present.
52 $20 $75
Cystourethroscopy
A diagnostic exam of the bladder and urethra using an endoscope to visually inspect the urinary tract.
45 $192 $350
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.
36 $105 $175
Initial hospital admission, high complexity
Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter.
36 $147 $300
Bladder ultrasound after voiding
An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder.
34 $8 $150
Injection, garamycin, gentamicin, up to 80 mg 32 $2 $41
Limited ultrasound of pelvis
A focused ultrasound exam of the pelvic area to evaluate specific structures. This procedure provides images of the pelvis to assist in medical assessment.
31 $38 $200
Prostate gland biopsy
A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination.
13 $203 $400
Ultrasound guidance for needle placement
Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure.
13 $52 $300
Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis
An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures.
12 $127 $200
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.

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$12,382
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,769/year across 7 years
Top 12% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
63
Companies
363
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
$9,098 (73.5%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$2,158 (17.4%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$1,126 (9.1%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$1,959
2023
$1,047
2022
$2,952
2021
$1,283
2020
$769
2019
$1,290
2018
$3,082

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$853
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$251
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$237
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$168
Agiliti Surgical, Inc.
$81
COLOPLAST CORP
$56
Endo USA, Inc.
$49
ABBVIE INC.
$43
180 Medical, Inc.
$41
PFIZER INC.
$36
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$35
Teleflex LLC
$26
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$22
C. R. Bard, Inc. & Subsidiaries
$20
Novo Nordisk Inc
$19
Sagent Pharmaceuticals
$19
Top 3 companies account for 68.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
GENZYME CORPORATION
$2,158
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$1,954
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$1,392
PFIZER INC.
$1,011
Boston Scientific Corporation
$935
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$455
Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.
$411
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$314
Coloplast Corp
$293
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$291
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$251
Teleflex LLC
$228
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$215
Allergan, Inc.
$185
Agiliti Surgical, Inc.
$170
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$144
TherapeuticsMD, Inc.
$135
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$101
COLOPLAST CORP
$100
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$92
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$81
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$72
ABBVIE INC.
$68
C. R. Bard, Inc. & Subsidiaries
$68
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$68
Allergan Inc.
$65
180 Medical, Inc.
$65
UROGEN PHARMA, INC.
$61
Ethicon US, LLC
$60
Palette Life Sciences, Inc.
$59
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$53
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$50
Medtronic, Inc.
$50
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$50
Endo USA, Inc.
$49
UROVANT SCIENCES INC
$48
AbbVie Inc.
$47
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$35
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$34
KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America
$29
Mission Pharmacal Company
$27
Lumenis, Inc
$27
CSL Behring
$25
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
UCB, Inc.
$23
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$23
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$22
MEDIVATION FIELD SOLUTIONS LLC
$21
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$20
Novo Nordisk Inc
$19
Biogen, Inc.
$19
Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
Sagent Pharmaceuticals
$19
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$19
Egalet US Inc
$18
Photocure Inc
$17
AKRIMAX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$17
Hollister Incorporated
$16
RGH Enterprises, Inc.
$16
Metuchen Pharmaceuticals
$14
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$13
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$12
NxThera, Inc.
$6
Top 3 companies account for 44.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(815) Thiola · AMS · AMS 700 · AQUABEAM ROBOTIC SYSTEM · AVEED · AXIS · Axumin · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · Bard Urinary Drainage Bag · CYSVIEW · EDEX · ENSEAL Product Family · Enseal X1 5mm · FIRMAGON · GEMTESA · GENERAL BPH · GENERAL BPH · GOCOVRI · Glydo · HETLIOZ · Hizentra · ILLUCCIX · IMVEXXY · INGREZZA · INTERSTIM · JELMYTO · JEVTANA · Luja Coude · Lumenis Pulse 120H · MYRBETRIQ · MYRISK · Myrbetriq · NANOKNIFE · NOCDURNA · Natesto · Neupro · Nubeqa · ONLI · ORGOVYX · PLUVICTO · PREMARIN · PROLARIS · PROVENGE · PVC · PYLARIFY · Porges Coloplast · Prolaris · REZUM · Rezum · SHINGRIX · SPEEDICATH · SPRIX · SUPRIS · SUTENT · Sonablate · Sonablate HIFU · SpeediCath · Stendra · TOVIAZ · TYSABRI · Thiola · UROLIFT · Uribel · UroLift System · Urocit-K · VESICARE · XIAFLEX · XTANDI · Xtandi · ZYTIGA · n.a.
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 (74%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.

Looking for an optician specialist in Long Beach?
Compare opticians in the Long Beach area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
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Geographic Context

Opticians within 10 mi
1,703
Per 100K population
17.3
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
MEMORIALCARE LONG BEACH 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. Wachs is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 12% of CA peers, with 19 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. Wachs experienced with urinalysis, manual?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Wachs performed 485 urinalysis, manual 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. Wachs receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Wachs received a total of $12,382 from 63 companies across 363 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. Wachs's costs compare to other opticians in Long Beach?
Dr. Wachs's average Medicare payment per service is $49. 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. Wachs) 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 →