Medicare Enrolled
Dr. James Richards, M.D.
Optician · Los Angeles, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Richards 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. Richards?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Richards
Dr. James Richards is an optician specialist in Los Angeles, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Richards performed 16,694 Medicare services across 7,007 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Richards received a total of $6,858 from 28 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 185 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. Richards 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 6% volume in CA
$6,858 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗16,694
Medicare services
Top 6% in CA for optician
7,007
Unique beneficiaries
$32
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~879 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
1,394 | $40 | $60 |
| 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. |
1,393 | $50 | $75 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
811 | $66 | $130 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
745 | $7 | $7 |
| 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. |
644 | $72 | $196 |
| 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. |
581 | $8 | $15 |
| 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. |
546 | $100 | $150 |
| Manual urinalysis with microscopic examination A urine test performed manually without automated equipment. The sample is examined under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
505 | $4 | $10 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
467 | $16 | $25 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
465 | $9 | $25 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
457 | $13 | $25 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
455 | $10 | $25 |
| Free T3 thyroid hormone test A blood test that measures the level of free triiodothyronine (T3) hormone in your body. This helps assess how well your thyroid gland is functioning. |
455 | $17 | $35 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
452 | $10 | $30 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
447 | $29 | $50 |
| Iron level test | 447 | $6 | $35 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test A blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube to detect inflammation in the body. This specific method is performed manually rather than using an automated machine. |
443 | $4 | $10 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
437 | $13 | $50 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
436 | $9 | $35 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
435 | $14 | $50 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
425 | $15 | $30 |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein test A blood test that measures high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to detect infection or inflammation. |
417 | $13 | $25 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
403 | $46 | $60 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
353 | $7 | $15 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
289 | $100 | $180 |
| Behavioral health care management, 20+ minutes This service involves clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional to manage behavioral health conditions. It requires at least 20 minutes of dedicated clinical staff time. |
212 | $37 | $60 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 197 | $18 | $40 |
| Free testosterone level test A blood test that measures the amount of free testosterone in your body. Free testosterone is the portion of the hormone not bound to proteins and available for use by tissues. |
193 | $25 | $35 |
| 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. |
193 | $25 | $45 |
| Luteinizing hormone level test A blood test that measures the level of luteinizing hormone, a reproductive hormone. This test helps evaluate hormonal balance and reproductive function. |
192 | $18 | $30 |
| Sex hormone binding globulin level test A blood test that measures the level of sex hormone binding globulin, a protein that binds to sex hormones in the bloodstream. |
192 | $21 | $40 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
142 | $18 | $53 |
| Nursing facility visit, moderate complexity A follow-up visit by a healthcare provider at a nursing facility for an established patient. The visit involves moderate medical decision making and takes at least 30 minutes. |
140 | $85 | $125 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
127 | $140 | $150 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
110 | $8 | $50 |
| Respiratory virus detection test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and influenza viruses. |
96 | $38 | $90 |
| 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. |
92 | $83 | $269 |
| 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. |
92 | $141 | $350 |
| 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. |
68 | $29 | $75 |
| SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. |
67 | $35 | $144 |
| 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. |
65 | $11 | $50 |
| Hospital discharge day management, 30 minutes or less This service covers the final day of hospital care when the patient is being discharged. It includes coordination of care and instructions for the patient within a time frame of 30 minutes or less. |
57 | $68 | $140 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
48 | $0 | $10 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
45 | $33 | $40 |
| Urine culture, bacterial colony count A laboratory test that measures the number of bacteria growing in a urine sample to help identify infections. |
41 | $8 | $34 |
| 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. |
38 | $142 | $200 |
| Urine culture, bacterial identification A laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria from a urine sample to detect infections. |
37 | $8 | $32 |
| 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. |
35 | $44 | $76 |
| Flu vaccine, quadrivalent A flu shot containing four strains of the influenza virus to help prevent seasonal influenza infection. |
34 | $76 | $85 |
| Chronic care management services Comprehensive assessment and care planning for patients requiring ongoing chronic care management. |
32 | $54 | $75 |
| Prolonged office E/M service, first 15 minutes This code is used for additional time spent by a physician beyond the maximum required time of a primary office or outpatient evaluation and management service. It is billed in 15-minute increments based on total time spent on the date of the primary service. |
29 | $26 | $150 |
| Initial nursing facility care, high complexity An initial visit by a healthcare provider to a patient in a nursing facility involving a high level of medical decision making, lasting at least 45 minutes. |
26 | $154 | $200 |
| 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. |
25 | $5 | $25 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
23 | $16 | $20 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
22 | $172 | $300 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 19 | $8 | $50 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
18 | $16 | $20 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
16 | $4 | $20 |
| Knee X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
15 | $29 | $80 |
| Inhalation treatment for airway obstruction or sputum production A treatment involving the inhalation of medication to help clear airway obstructions or reduce sputum production. |
15 | $8 | $30 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
14 | $36 | $80 |
| Annual wellness visit, initial visit A yearly appointment to review your health and create a personalized prevention plan. This initial visit focuses on preventive care and health assessment. |
13 | $178 | $200 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
12 | $32 | $100 |
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 ↗$6,858
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $980/year across 7 years
Top 19% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
28
Companies
185
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
$6,858 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$689
2023
$847
2022
$834
2021
$545
2020
$464
2019
$1,352
2018
$2,128
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$297
Lilly USA, LLC
$168
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$126
Novo Nordisk Inc
$23
ALK-Abello, Inc
$21
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$19
Exact Sciences Corporation
$18
PFIZER INC.
$18
Top 3 companies account for 85.7% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$1,559
Novo Nordisk Inc
$951
Lilly USA, LLC
$752
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$482
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$305
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$291
PFIZER INC.
$280
Amgen Inc.
$269
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$239
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$224
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$221
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$190
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$178
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$145
Allergan Inc.
$142
Genentech USA, Inc.
$123
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$107
Abbott Laboratories
$70
Shield Therapeutics Inc
$68
Eisai Inc.
$64
EISAI INC.
$63
Ascensia Diabetes Care US Inc.
$29
ALK-Abello, Inc
$21
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$19
VBI Vaccine (Delaware) Inc.
$18
Exact Sciences Corporation
$18
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$17
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$14
Top 3 companies account for 47.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCRUFER · AIRSUPRA · ANORO · Adempas · Aimovig · BREZTRI · BYSTOLIC · Belviq · CHANTIX · Cologuard Collection Kit · DALVANCE · DARZALEX · ELIQUIS · Erleada · FARXIGA · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · INVOKANA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · MOUNJARO · OFEV · Odactra · Ozempic · PREVNAR - 13 · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · PreHevbrio · Repatha · Rybelsus · SOLIQUA · SYMBICORT · Saxenda · TEZSPIRE · TOUJEO · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRULICITY · UPTRAVI · Vascepa · Victoza · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Xofluza
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
1,538
Per 100K population
15.6
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
CEDAR-SINAI MARINA DEL REY HOSPITAL
3.1 mi
3.1 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. Richards is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 19% 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. Richards experienced with remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Richards performed 1,394 remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month 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. Richards receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Richards received a total of $6,858 from 28 companies across 185 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. Richards's costs compare to other opticians in Los Angeles?
Dr. Richards's average Medicare payment per service is $32. 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. Richards) 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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