Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Kevin Chen, MD

Ophthalmology · Salinas, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Consulting-driven
622 ABBOTT ST, Salinas, CA 93901
8317713900
In practice since 2012 (13 years)
NPI: 1447518832 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. Chen 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. Chen

Dr. Kevin Chen is an ophthalmology specialist in Salinas, CA, with 13 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Chen performed 10,628 Medicare services across 4,758 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Chen received a total of $3,865 from 10 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 12 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. Chen 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.

✓ 13 years in practice ▲ Top 9% volume in CA $3,865 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
10,628
Medicare services
Top 9% in CA for ophthalmology
4,758
Unique beneficiaries
$165
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~818 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
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
3,321 $32 $173
Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) 1,718 $685 $1,416
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.
1,694 $69 $146
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider.
1,590 $95 $211
Eye injection for retinal disease
A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye.
1,453 $92 $1,206
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.
483 $73 $128
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient.
166 $100 $246
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.
41 $42 $313
Visual field test, extended
A test that maps your complete field of vision to detect blind spots or peripheral vision loss. Extended testing provides a more detailed assessment than a standard visual field exam.
37 $40 $151
Bevacizumab injection, 10 mg
Administration of a 10 mg dose of bevacizumab medication via injection.
35 $53 $132
Steroid injection (triamcinolone)
A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered.
25 $1 $7
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.
15 $203 $1,246
Injection into eye membrane
A procedure involving the injection of a drug or substance into the membrane that covers the eyeball.
14 $42 $218
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.
14 $27 $197
Retinal membrane and internal limiting membrane removal
A surgical procedure to remove a membrane from the retina along with the internal limiting membrane of the retina.
11 $961 $3,097
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.
11 $109 $140
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 ↗
$3,865
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $552/year across 7 years
Top 30% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
10
Companies
12
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
$3,140 (81.2%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$725 (18.8%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$169
2023
$28
2022
$16
2021
$14
2020
$3,140
2019
$365
2018
$135

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$116
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$33
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$20
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Genentech, Inc.
$3,140
Glaukos Corporation
$146
Stryker Corporation
$139
Allergan Inc.
$135
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$116
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$79
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$61
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$20
GLAUKOS CORPORATION
$16
Alcon Vision LLC
$14
Top 3 companies account for 88.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
A3 · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · BEOVU · BOTOX · EYLEA HD · ISTENT INJECT W · Izervay · Lucentis · XDEMVY · iStent 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 (81%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers.

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

Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
32
Per 100K population
7.3
County median income
$94,486
Nearest hospital
SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
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. Chen is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 9% in CA), with consulting-driven industry engagement.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Chen experienced with retinal imaging (oct scan)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Chen performed 3,321 retinal imaging (oct scan) 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. Chen receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Chen received a total of $3,865 from 10 companies across 12 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. Chen's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Salinas?
Dr. Chen's average Medicare payment per service is $165. 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. Chen) 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 →