Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Michael Ammar, MD

Ophthalmology · Poway, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Speaking/Promotional
12630 MONTE VISTA RD STE 104, Poway, CA 92064
8584511911
In practice since 2015 (11 years)
NPI: 1982099115 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. Ammar 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. Ammar

Dr. Michael Ammar is an ophthalmology specialist in Poway, CA, with 11 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Ammar performed 35,779 Medicare services across 2,621 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Ammar received a total of $48,834 from 23 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 147 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.

The Data Coverage level for Dr. Ammar 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.

✓ 11 years in practice ▲ Top 2% volume in CA $48,834 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
35,779
Medicare services
Top 2% in CA for ophthalmology
2,621
Unique beneficiaries
$49
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~3,253 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 injection (Vabysmo/faricimab)
An injection of faricimab-svoa, a medication administered in 0.1 mg doses.
29,880 $29 $45
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
1,871 $33 $96
Eye injection for retinal disease
A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye.
858 $100 $599
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.
804 $74 $120
Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) 696 $695 $1,240
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider.
366 $101 $170
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.
249 $121 $215
Pegcetacoplan intravitreal injection, 1 mg
An injection of pegcetacoplan administered into the vitreous humor of the eye. The dose specified is 1 milligram.
165 $120 $175
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.
145 $49 $95
Extended exam of back of eye with optic nerve drawing
A detailed examination of the posterior section of the eye, including the optic nerve, with documentation through drawing.
142 $13 $96
New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) 92 $168 $270
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.
90 $109 $150
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.
82 $76 $102
Extended eye exam with retinal drawing
A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina.
60 $20 $96
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.
53 $122 $225
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.
51 $28 $97
Ultrasound of eye tissue and structures
A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the eye's internal tissues and structures.
43 $41 $219
Retinal photocoagulation to prevent detachment
This procedure uses laser light to create small burns on the retina. It is performed to help prevent the retina from detaching from the back of the eye.
35 $212 $1,028
Unclassified drug
A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories.
22 $1,792 $2,566
Laser vitreolysis
A laser procedure used to destroy fluid in the vitreous of the eye, located between the lens and the retina.
18 $755 $1,800
Steroid injection (triamcinolone)
A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered.
16 $1 $50
Injection into eye membrane
A procedure involving the injection of a drug or substance into the membrane that covers the eyeball.
15 $41 $175
Corneal foreign body removal using slit lamp
A procedure to remove a foreign object from the surface of the eye's cornea. The removal is performed using a slit lamp microscope to visualize and extract the object.
14 $54 $428
Prosthetic lens exchange
Surgical removal of an existing artificial lens and replacement with a new one.
12 $448 $1,700
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 ↗
$48,834
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $6,976/year across 7 years
Top 7% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
23
Companies
147
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.

Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$29,923 (61.3%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$12,783 (26.2%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$6,129 (12.6%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$27,935
2023
$17,205
2022
$957
2021
$464
2020
$40
2019
$1,950
2018
$283

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$18,718
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$3,901
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,918
Genentech USA, Inc.
$1,707
Alcon Vision LLC
$375
Harrow Eye, LLC
$359
ABBVIE INC.
$195
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS INC.
$153
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$146
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$125
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$123
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$86
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$54
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$34
Biogen, Inc.
$20
Sandoz Inc.
$20
Top 3 companies account for 87.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$28,231
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$8,509
Genentech USA, Inc.
$4,838
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$2,336
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,644
Glaukos Corporation
$504
Harrow Eye, LLC
$359
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$350
Alcon Research Ltd
$266
Allergan Inc.
$245
Notal Vision, Inc.
$228
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$226
ABBVIE INC.
$195
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$168
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS INC.
$153
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$125
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$123
AbbVie Inc.
$122
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$86
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$70
Biogen, Inc.
$20
Sandoz Inc.
$20
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$18
Top 3 companies account for 85.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · BYOOVIZ · Centurion · Cimerli · Clareon · DAILIES · DEXTENZA · EYLEA · EYLEA HD · ILUVIEN · Iluvien · Izervay · Lucentis · Luxor · OMNI SURGICAL SYSTEM · OZURDEX · SUSVIMO · Susvimo · Syfovre · Tecnis IOL · VABYSMO · Vabysmo · YUTIQ · enVista MX60 IOL · iDose TR · iStent inject Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System
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 (61%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in ophthalmology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 7% for ophthalmology in CA.

Looking for an ophthalmology specialist in Poway?
Compare ophthalmologists in the Poway area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse ophthalmologists nearby

Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
286
Per 100K population
8.7
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
PALOMAR MEDICAL CENTER POWAY
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. Ammar is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in CA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 7% of CA peers.

This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Ammar experienced with eye injection (vabysmo/faricimab)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Ammar performed 29,880 eye injection (vabysmo/faricimab) 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. Ammar receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Ammar received a total of $48,834 from 23 companies across 147 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. Ammar's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Poway?
Dr. Ammar'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. Ammar) 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 →