Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Joel Pearlman, M.D., PH.D
Ophthalmology · Sacramento, 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. Pearlman 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. Pearlman?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Pearlman
Dr. Joel Pearlman is an ophthalmology specialist in Sacramento, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Pearlman performed 32,137 Medicare services across 4,876 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Pearlman received a total of $27,954 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 117 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. 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. Pearlman 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
$27,954 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗32,137
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for ophthalmology
4,876
Unique beneficiaries
$104
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,691 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. |
17,160 | $29 | $80 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
3,533 | $31 | $150 |
| Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) | 1,984 | $689 | $1,792 |
| Eye injection for retinal disease A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye. |
1,875 | $96 | $1,127 |
| Ranibizumab-nuna biosimilar injection, 0.1 mg An injection of the biosimilar medication ranibizumab-nuna (Byooviz) at a dose of 0.1 mg. |
1,625 | $175 | $500 |
| Ranibizumab-eqrn injection, 0.1 mg An injection of the biosimilar medication ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli) in a 0.1 mg dose. |
1,157 | $217 | $670 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
1,026 | $91 | $450 |
| Injection, ranibizumab, 0.1 mg | 971 | $186 | $541 |
| 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. |
879 | $67 | $327 |
| 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. |
427 | $108 | $491 |
| 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. |
382 | $58 | $309 |
| Pegcetacoplan intravitreal injection, 1 mg An injection of pegcetacoplan administered into the vitreous humor of the eye. The dose specified is 1 milligram. |
360 | $120 | $310 |
| 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. |
140 | $108 | $566 |
| 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. |
114 | $28 | $138 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
64 | $1 | $12 |
| Unclassified drug A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories. |
57 | $1,940 | $7,982 |
| 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. |
56 | $37 | $179 |
| Extended eye exam with retinal drawing A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina. |
51 | $18 | $89 |
| 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. |
42 | $84 | $440 |
| Compounded drug, not otherwise classified A medication prepared specifically for an individual patient by a pharmacist or physician, tailored to meet unique needs that cannot be fulfilled by commercially available products. |
42 | $74 | $550 |
| Retinal detachment repair with fluid drainage A surgical procedure to reattach a detached retina by draining excess fluid from the space between the lens and the retina. |
40 | $949 | $5,000 |
| Retinal laser treatment for leaking blood vessels This procedure uses a laser to seal leaking blood vessels in the retina. It is performed to prevent vision loss caused by fluid leakage from damaged retinal vessels. |
38 | $262 | $1,453 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, new patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient. |
26 | $128 | $529 |
| 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. |
23 | $64 | $380 |
| 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. |
19 | $195 | $1,064 |
| Injection into eye membrane A procedure involving the injection of a drug or substance into the membrane that covers the eyeball. |
16 | $38 | $220 |
| Vitreous removal between lens and retina This procedure involves the removal of the vitreous fluid located between the lens and the retina of the eye. |
15 | $704 | $3,773 |
| Removal of retinal membrane A surgical procedure to remove a membrane from the surface of the retina. |
15 | $965 | $4,806 |
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 ↗$27,954
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $3,993/year across 7 years
Top 9% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
27
Companies
117
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
$18,599 (66.5%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$5,319 (19.0%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$3,196 (11.4%)
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$840 (3.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$17,566
2023
$4,655
2022
$1,322
2021
$179
2020
$2,416
2019
$814
2018
$1,002
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$9,691
Amgen Inc.
$5,938
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS INC.
$346
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$314
Alcon Vision LLC
$276
Genentech USA, Inc.
$257
Topcon Healthcare, Inc.
$246
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$205
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$130
Harrow Eye, LLC
$119
Astellas Pharma Global Development
$26
Biogen, Inc.
$19
Top 3 companies account for 90.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$9,691
Amgen Inc.
$5,938
Genentech USA, Inc.
$2,941
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
$2,546
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,536
Carl Zeiss Meditec USA, Inc.
$840
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
$720
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$513
Alcon Research LLC
$490
Genentech, Inc.
$465
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS INC.
$346
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$337
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$331
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$274
Topcon Healthcare, Inc.
$246
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$132
Harrow Eye, LLC
$119
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$119
Iridex Corporation
$113
Allergan Inc.
$59
Biogen, Inc.
$45
Dutch Ophthalmic, USA
$45
Astellas Pharma Global Development
$26
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$25
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$23
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$21
NotalVision
$13
Top 3 companies account for 66.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · BEOVU · BYOOVIZ · CIRRUS HD-OCT · Constellation · DEXYCU · EVA Ophthalmic Surgical System · EYLEA · EYLEA HD · ForeseeHome · HYDRUS Microstent · ILUVIEN · Izervay · Lucentis · Non-Covered Product · OZURDEX · PAVBLU · SUSVIMO · Syfovre · TEPEZZA · VABYSMO · Vabysmo · XIPERE
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 (66%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Total industry engagement is in the top 9% for ophthalmology in CA.
Geographic Context
Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
144
Per 100K population
9.1
County median income
$88,724
Nearest hospital
MERCY GENERAL 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. Pearlman is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in CA), with consulting-driven industry engagement in the top 9% 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. Pearlman experienced with eye injection (vabysmo/faricimab)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Pearlman performed 17,160 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. Pearlman receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Pearlman received a total of $27,954 from 27 companies across 117 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. Pearlman's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Sacramento?
Dr. Pearlman's average Medicare payment per service is $104. 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. Pearlman) 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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