Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Andrew Cho, M.D.
Ophthalmology · Los Angeles, 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. Cho 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 →
Are you Dr. Cho?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Cho
Dr. Andrew Cho is an ophthalmology specialist in Los Angeles, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cho performed 11,427 Medicare services across 6,801 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cho received a total of $18,921 from 46 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 674 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. Cho 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 9% volume in CA
$18,921 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗11,427
Medicare services
Top 9% in CA for ophthalmology
6,801
Unique beneficiaries
$162
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~601 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
1,932 | $75 | $120 |
| Retinal photography (fundus photo) This procedure involves taking photographs of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It is used to document the condition of the eye's interior structures. |
1,201 | $29 | $120 |
| Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) | 1,138 | $693 | $1,850 |
| Tear duct plug insertion A procedure to insert a small plug into the tear duct opening to help retain tears on the eye surface. |
1,051 | $178 | $302 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
954 | $101 | $160 |
| 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. |
789 | $52 | $120 |
| Removal of eye fluid | 594 | $100 | $300 |
| Eye injection for retinal disease A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye. |
592 | $49 | $500 |
| Retinal and optic nerve function test A diagnostic test that measures how well the retina and optic nerve are functioning. |
538 | $114 | $250 |
| Retinal angiography with dye injection This procedure uses a special camera to examine the blood vessels in the retina after a dye has been injected into the body. |
506 | $124 | $200 |
| Nasal tear duct probing A procedure to examine and clear the tear ducts in the nose. It helps restore normal drainage of tears from the eye. |
487 | $154 | $300 |
| Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow A laser procedure used to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye. |
407 | $209 | $600 |
| Eyelash removal with forceps This procedure involves the manual removal of eyelashes using forceps. It is a mechanical extraction method performed on the eyelid area. |
224 | $13 | $155 |
| Ultrasound of eye using water bath method An ultrasound imaging test of the eye that uses a water bath technique to visualize internal eye structures. |
173 | $66 | $200 |
| Removal of foreign body from external eye This procedure involves the removal of a foreign object from the surface of the eye, specifically from the conjunctiva or sclera. |
121 | $29 | $181 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, new patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient. |
94 | $122 | $190 |
| Contact lens fitting for eye surface disease This procedure involves the fitting of a contact lens specifically intended to treat or manage a disease affecting the surface of the eye. |
83 | $32 | $102 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
79 | $34 | $100 |
| Corneal topography and eye depth measurement This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. |
73 | $40 | $250 |
| Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea. |
70 | $9 | $80 |
| Amniotic membrane placement on eye surface This procedure involves placing amniotic membrane on the surface of the eye to promote wound healing. |
67 | $1,245 | $2,000 |
| Eye drainage system examination An examination of the internal drainage system of the eye to assess how fluid flows and drains from the eye. |
49 | $24 | $65 |
| Dilation of eye fluid drainage A procedure to widen the drainage pathways in the eye to help fluid flow out more easily. |
48 | $503 | $1,500 |
| Cataract surgery with lens implant Surgical removal of the clouded natural lens of the eye and replacement with an artificial prosthetic lens to restore vision. |
43 | $278 | $1,600 |
| Laser removal of recurring cataract A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule. |
37 | $296 | $550 |
| Extended eye exam with retinal drawing A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina. |
26 | $21 | $75 |
| Complex cataract removal with lens implant A surgical procedure to remove a cataract from the eye and insert an artificial lens to restore vision. |
18 | $642 | $2,000 |
| 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. |
17 | $126 | $200 |
| Medication injection into the eye A procedure involving the injection of medication directly into the eye. The specific type of medication or clinical purpose is not defined in the provided description. |
16 | $49 | $500 |
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.
0.4% high complexity
22.5% medium
77.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$18,921
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,703/year across 7 years
Top 10% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
46
Companies
674
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
$16,161 (85.4%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,430 (7.6%)
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$686 (3.6%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$645 (3.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,568
2023
$2,127
2022
$2,574
2021
$4,680
2020
$2,143
2019
$2,939
2018
$2,889
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$269
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$231
ABBVIE INC.
$145
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$138
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$132
Nova Eye, Inc.
$129
Amgen Inc.
$122
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$112
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$111
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$55
Alcon Vision LLC
$49
Thea Pharma Inc.
$40
Dompe US, Inc.
$35
Top 3 companies account for 41.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,701
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$1,625
Allergan, Inc.
$1,455
Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,430
Allergan Inc.
$1,100
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,075
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$1,063
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$943
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$820
ABBVIE INC.
$738
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$735
Eyevance Pharmaceuticals LLC
$677
Ivantis, Inc
$625
Amgen Inc.
$596
Shire North American Group Inc
$576
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$447
Novo Nordisk Inc
$336
Akorn, Inc.
$280
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$223
Akorn Operating Company LLC
$217
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$202
AbbVie Inc.
$194
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$177
Thea Pharma Inc.
$149
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$138
Abbott Laboratories
$134
Nova Eye, Inc.
$129
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$125
Corcept Therapeutics
$125
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$111
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$102
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$102
Glaukos Corporation
$93
BioTissue Holdings, Inc.
$86
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS, INC.
$75
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$40
Dompe US, Inc.
$35
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$34
EYEVANCE PHARMACEUTICALS LLC
$33
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$30
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
TissueTech, Inc.
$29
TOPCON HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
$25
Genentech USA, Inc.
$23
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
$19
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 25.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ALPHAGAN P · AMVISC · ARGOS · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · AzaSite · BOTOX · BROMSITE · Betimol · CEQUA · Cequa · Cosopt PF · DUREZOL · DURYSTA · ENTRESTO · ENVISTA · EYLEA · EYLEA HD · EYSUVIS · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · Flarex · HARMONY · HYDRUS Microstent · Hydrus · Hydrus Microstent · ILEVRO · ILUVIEN · IN.PACT Admiral · INVELTYS · IYUZEH · Iluvien · Izervay · JARDIANCE · KXL System · Kerendia · Korlym · LOTEMAX GEL · LOTEMAX SM · LUMIGAN · MIEBO · None Specified · OMNI · OMNI SURGICAL SYSTEM · OMNI Surgical System · OMNI(R) SURGICAL SYSTEM (US) · OXERVATE · OZURDEX · Otezla · Ozempic · PAZEO · PROKERA · PROLENSA · PanOptix · Prokera · RESTASIS · RESTASIS MULTIDOSE · RYBELSUS · ReSTOR · Repatha · Rhopressa · Rocklatan · STEGLATRO · STELLARIS · Simbrinza · Syfovre · TEPEZZA · TRAVATAN Z · TYRVAYA · TobraDex ST · VABYSMO · VUITY · VYZULTA · Verion · Wegovy · XDEMVY · XELPROS · XEN · XEN GLAUCOMA TREATMENT SYSTEM · XIIDRA · ZERVIATE · Zioptan · enVista MX60 IOL · iStent inject Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System · rhopressa · rocklatan
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 (85%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 10% for ophthalmology in CA.
Geographic Context
Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
768
Per 100K population
7.8
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
DOCS SURGICAL HOSPITAL
2.3 mi
2.3 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. Cho is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 9% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 10% 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. Cho experienced with eye exam, established patient, focused?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Cho performed 1,932 eye exam, established patient, focused 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. Cho receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Cho received a total of $18,921 from 46 companies across 674 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. Cho's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Los Angeles?
Dr. Cho's average Medicare payment per service is $162. 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. Cho) 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.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology