Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Mark Vierra, M.D.
Optician · Poway, 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. Vierra 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. Vierra
Dr. Mark Vierra is an optician specialist in Poway, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Vierra performed 12,796 Medicare services across 4,103 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Vierra received a total of $2,501 from 25 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 160 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. Vierra 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 7% volume in CA
$2,501 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗12,796
Medicare services
Top 7% in CA for optician
4,103
Unique beneficiaries
$33
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~640 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photodynamic therapy gel for precancerous skin | 4,000 | $1 | $2 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
3,792 | $6 | $15 |
| 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. |
1,038 | $64 | $120 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
997 | $40 | $105 |
| 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. |
735 | $97 | $160 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
564 | $73 | $135 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
510 | $91 | $140 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
189 | $45 | $72 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
153 | $146 | $240 |
| 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. |
99 | $41 | $80 |
| Intermediate wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A medical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, underarms, trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. This type of repair involves cleaning the wound and stitching it closed to promote healing. |
86 | $269 | $405 |
| 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. |
72 | $79 | $140 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm Removal of a cancerous skin growth on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters. |
71 | $149 | $225 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 1.1-2.0 cm Surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters on the body, arms, or legs. |
57 | $103 | $315 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
51 | $62 | $160 |
| Simple drainage of skin abscess A minor procedure to drain a localized collection of pus from the skin. The abscess is opened to allow the fluid to escape and promote healing. |
39 | $103 | $150 |
| 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. |
39 | $125 | $200 |
| Complicated wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound measuring between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters on areas such as the face, neck, hands, or feet. |
35 | $421 | $755 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 2.1-3.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The size of the removed tissue measures between 2.1 and 3.0 centimeters. |
32 | $125 | $360 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
30 | $38 | $65 |
| 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. |
30 | $12 | $28 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
30 | $1 | $2 |
| Destruction of skin growth, 15 or more growths | 29 | $111 | $200 |
| Lip biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the lip for laboratory examination. |
23 | $96 | $200 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 1.1-2.0 cm Surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth measuring 1.1 to 2.0 centimeters from the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. |
22 | $109 | $429 |
| Light application with debridement to destroy precancerous skin growth This procedure involves applying light to the skin along with debridement to destroy precancerous skin growths. |
20 | $242 | $350 |
| Punch biopsy of first skin growth A small, circular piece of skin is removed from a skin growth using a circular blade. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for examination. |
18 | $101 | $180 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth of scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals, 1.1-2.0 cm | 18 | $170 | $310 |
| Destruction of cancerous skin growth, 2.1-3.0 cm This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin lesion measuring between 2.1 and 3.0 centimeters located on the trunk, arms, or legs. |
17 | $164 | $250 |
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 ↗$2,501
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $357/year across 7 years
Top 34% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
25
Companies
160
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
$2,224 (89.0%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$276 (11.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$425
2023
$431
2022
$472
2021
$334
2020
$77
2019
$324
2018
$437
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$192
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$159
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$39
PFIZER INC.
$20
Incyte Corporation
$15
Top 3 companies account for 91.7% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$912
ABBVIE INC.
$226
Amgen Inc.
$190
GENZYME CORPORATION
$163
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$147
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$117
VYNE Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$106
Mayne Pharma Inc.
$85
AbbVie, Inc.
$79
Almirall LLC
$77
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$66
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$53
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$43
PFIZER INC.
$35
Allergan Inc.
$30
Allergan, Inc.
$24
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$23
AbbVie Inc.
$22
Journey Medical Corporation
$20
PruGen, Inc. Pharmaceuticals
$16
Incyte Corporation
$15
Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$15
UCB, Inc.
$13
Sandoz Inc.
$12
LEO Pharma Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 53.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
0.25% · AMZEEQ · Absorica LD · BOTOX · BOTOX COSMETIC · BRYHALI · CIBINQO · Cimzia · DORYX · DUPIXENT · EUCRISA · FINACEA · Humira · JUBLIA · KERYDIN · OPZELURA · Otezla · QBREXZA · REMICADE · RETIN-A-MICRO · RINVOQ · SKYRIZI · Seysara · Sotyktu · TOPICORT (desoximetasone) Topical Spray · TREMFYA · Tremfya · Winlevi · ZILXI
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 (89%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
472
Per 100K population
14.4
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
PALOMAR MEDICAL CENTER POWAY
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. Vierra is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 7% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Vierra experienced with photodynamic therapy gel for precancerous skin?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Vierra performed 4,000 photodynamic therapy gel for precancerous skin 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. Vierra receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Vierra received a total of $2,501 from 25 companies across 160 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. Vierra's costs compare to other opticians in Poway?
Dr. Vierra's average Medicare payment per service is $33. 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. Vierra) 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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