Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Mark Scholz, M.D.
Optician · Marina Del Rey, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Consulting-driven
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. Scholz 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. Scholz
Dr. Mark Scholz is an optician specialist in Marina Del Rey, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Scholz performed 34,347 Medicare services across 9,774 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Scholz received a total of $89,849 from 55 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 594 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in optician. The majority of payments are for consulting, which typically reflects recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Scholz 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 3% volume in CA
$89,849 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗34,347
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for optician
9,774
Unique beneficiaries
$39
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,808 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 12,840 | $18 | $28 |
| 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. |
4,067 | $146 | $325 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 1,325 | $18 | $60 |
| 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. |
1,317 | $8 | $25 |
| Prostatic acid phosphatase level test A blood test that measures the level of prostatic acid phosphatase, an enzyme produced by the prostate gland. |
1,269 | $9 | $35 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
1,258 | $8 | $15 |
| 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. |
1,174 | $25 | $90 |
| 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. |
1,138 | $21 | $60 |
| Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level A blood test to measure the level of follicle stimulating hormone, a reproductive hormone. |
1,132 | $18 | $75 |
| 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. |
1,132 | $18 | $75 |
| Total estradiol level test A blood test that measures the total amount of estradiol, a form of estrogen, in the body. |
1,131 | $27 | $60 |
| Leuprolide injectable, camcevi, 1 mg | 924 | $61 | $118 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
515 | $0 | $8 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
470 | $16 | $55 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
468 | $9 | $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. |
468 | $17 | $50 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 408 | $137 | $750 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
360 | $10 | $45 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
295 | $124 | $250 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis blood flow This procedure uses sound waves to create images of blood flow in the arteries and veins of the abdomen and pelvis. It evaluates the rate and direction of blood movement within these vessels. |
295 | $240 | $650 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
279 | $12 | $50 |
| Injection, amikacin sulfate, 100 mg | 211 | $1 | $40 |
| Subcutaneous or intramuscular chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering anti-cancer hormonal medication through an injection into the tissue under the skin or into a muscle. |
182 | $30 | $145 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
142 | $8 | $24 |
| Urinalysis, manual A manual laboratory examination of a urine sample to check for various substances and cells. |
142 | $3 | $15 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 141 | $8 | $22 |
| 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. |
141 | $104 | $225 |
| Normal saline infusion, 250 cc Administration of 250 cubic centimeters of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater fluid. |
140 | $1 | $30 |
| 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. |
138 | $27 | $200 |
| Venipuncture for blood draw Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect blood samples. This procedure is performed on patients aged 3 years or older. |
115 | $15 | $47 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
90 | $121 | $350 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 89 | $181 | $1,043 |
| 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. |
84 | $0 | $25 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
79 | $15 | $42 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
70 | $13 | $85 |
| Lidocaine HCl injection for IV infusion, 10 mg Administration of a 10 mg dose of lidocaine hydrochloride via intravenous infusion. |
66 | $0 | $10 |
| Diphenhydramine injection, up to 50 mg An injection of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, an antihistamine medication, administered in a dose of up to 50 milligrams. |
52 | $1 | $5 |
| Additional sequential IV infusion, 1 hour or less This code represents an additional intravenous infusion administered sequentially to a primary infusion. It covers the administration time of one hour or less. |
47 | $26 | $90 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
43 | $7 | $40 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
30 | $20 | $60 |
| Prostate gland biopsy A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination. |
22 | $213 | $400 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
22 | $52 | $300 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone. |
22 | $109 | $450 |
| 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. |
14 | $73 | $180 |
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.
1.0% high complexity
44.1% medium
54.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$89,849
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $12,836/year across 7 years
Top 3% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
55
Companies
594
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.
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$41,524 (46.2%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$36,876 (41.0%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$11,448 (12.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,547
2023
$2,664
2022
$2,035
2021
$4,617
2020
$19,585
2019
$27,842
2018
$30,558
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$372
PFIZER INC.
$285
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$234
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$233
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$230
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$203
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$151
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$112
Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.
$108
ABBVIE INC.
$101
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$91
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$78
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$73
Exelixis Inc.
$72
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$44
ACCORD HEALTHCARE, INC.
$40
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$27
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$26
Exact Sciences Corporation
$25
Coherus Biosciences Inc.
$22
Tolmar, Inc.
$19
Top 3 companies account for 35.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$32,278
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$15,491
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$14,352
Janssen Global Services, LLC
$6,171
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$4,808
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$4,010
Clovis Oncology, Inc.
$2,649
Exelixis Inc.
$1,802
Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
$1,374
PFIZER INC.
$895
Amgen Inc.
$751
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$576
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$453
Astellas Pharma Global Development
$439
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$407
GENZYME CORPORATION
$400
Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.
$382
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$206
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$204
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$203
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$146
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$138
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$135
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$128
Profound Medical Corp.
$104
Coherus Biosciences Inc.
$104
ABBVIE INC.
$101
AbbVie Inc.
$97
MEDIVATION SERVICES LLC
$95
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$78
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$78
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$72
Mylan Institutional Inc.
$67
AbbVie, Inc.
$64
ACCORD HEALTHCARE, INC.
$64
Foundation Medicine, Inc.
$63
MEDIVATION FIELD SOLUTIONS LLC
$45
Exact Sciences Corporation
$45
Boston Scientific Corporation
$43
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$34
IsoRay, Inc
$33
Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.
$26
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$26
PALETTE LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
$23
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$23
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$21
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$19
Tolmar, Inc.
$19
AKRIMAX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$17
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$16
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$16
Augmenix, Inc.
$15
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$15
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 69.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AKYNZEO · AVEED · Aranesp · Axumin · BRACANALYSIS CDX · Brachytherapy Source · CABOMETYX · CAMCEVI · Cabometyx · Cologuard Collection Kit · ELIGARD · ENZALUTAMIDE · ERLEADA · EVENITY · Erleada · FIRMAGON · FOUNDATIONONE LIQUID CDX · Fulphila · ILLUCCIX · INLYTA · JEVTANA · KEYTRUDA · LIBTAYO · LUPRON DEPOT · LYNPARZA · Lupron · Lupron Depot · MYRBETRIQ · MYRISK · Natesto · Neulasta · Noctiva · Nplate · Nubeqa · ORGOVYX · PADCEV · PAXLOVID · PLUVICTO · POSLUMA · PROLARIS · PROVENGE · PYLARIFY · Prolaris · Prolia · QUVIVIQ · ROLVEDON · Rubraca · SEGLENTIS · SPACEOAR VUE · SpaceOAR · Stendra · TALZENNA · TAXOTERE · TECENTRIQ · TESTOPEL · Udenyca · XGEVA · XTANDI · Xofigo · Xtandi · YONSA · ZYTIGA
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 →
The majority of payments (46%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Total industry engagement is in the top 3% for optician in CA.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
1,509
Per 100K population
15.3
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
CEDAR-SINAI MARINA DEL REY HOSPITAL
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. Scholz is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in CA), with consulting-driven industry engagement in the top 3% 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. Scholz experienced with denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Scholz performed 12,840 denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva) 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. Scholz receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Scholz received a total of $89,849 from 55 companies across 594 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. Scholz's costs compare to other opticians in Marina Del Rey?
Dr. Scholz's average Medicare payment per service is $39. 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. Scholz) 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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