Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Ara Dikranian, M.D

Optician · San Diego, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology — Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Speaking/Promotional
3633 CAMINO DEL RIO S STE 300, San Diego, CA 92108
6192879730
In practice since 2006 (19 years)
NPI: 1609962026 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. Dikranian 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. Dikranian

Dr. Ara Dikranian is an optician specialist in San Diego, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Dikranian performed 645 Medicare services across 276 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Dikranian received a total of $2,048,984 from 74 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 3528 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in optician. 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. Dikranian 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 ▲ 645 Medicare services $2,048,984 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
645
Medicare services
Bottom 36% in CA for optician
Lower Medicare volume may reflect subspecialty focus, hospital-based work, or a higher share of non-Medicare patients.
276
Unique beneficiaries
$87
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~34 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
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.
495 $96 $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.
85 $62 $125
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.
26 $92 $250
Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg 22 $6 $38
Joint injection, major joint
Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space.
17 $56 $135
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 ↗
$2,048,984
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $292,712/year across 7 years
Top 0% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
74
Companies
3,528
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
$1,647,788 (80.4%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$389,267 (19.0%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$11,929 (0.6%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$350,278
2023
$361,993
2022
$331,258
2021
$236,023
2020
$187,860
2019
$367,794
2018
$213,778

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$120,549
ABBVIE INC.
$44,535
GENZYME CORPORATION
$44,390
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$32,547
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$20,941
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$20,073
UCB, Inc.
$19,107
PFIZER INC.
$18,074
Lilly USA, LLC
$14,502
Amgen Inc.
$7,176
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$3,894
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$2,094
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$930
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$297
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$256
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$202
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$126
Vision Quest Industries Inc.
$119
Biogen, Inc.
$78
Eli Lilly and Company
$72
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$47
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$46
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$43
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$38
SOBI, INC
$34
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$30
Genentech USA, Inc.
$26
Celltrion USA Inc.
$20
Almatica Pharma LLC
$17
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$16
Top 3 companies account for 59.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$243,854
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$238,494
AbbVie Inc.
$184,635
GENZYME CORPORATION
$159,033
PFIZER INC.
$157,527
Lilly USA, LLC
$157,179
ABBVIE INC.
$120,711
AbbVie, Inc.
$114,457
Amgen Inc.
$105,945
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$90,874
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$76,458
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$54,920
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$49,192
Celgene Corporation
$43,374
UCB, Inc.
$38,438
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$33,847
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$30,980
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$30,363
Genentech USA, Inc.
$22,248
Mallinckrodt LLC
$18,528
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$17,900
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$16,216
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$13,050
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$12,222
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$6,069
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$2,146
AstraZeneca UK Limited
$1,969
Exeltis, USA Inc.
$1,692
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$1,233
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$674
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$651
UCB SA
$460
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$412
Zyla Life Sciences
$344
Genentech, Inc.
$317
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$274
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$268
MEDEXUS PHARMA, INC.
$160
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$134
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$126
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$120
Vision Quest Industries Inc.
$119
Horizon Pharma plc
$103
MEDAC PHARMA, INC.
$88
Radius Health, Inc.
$88
Eisai Inc.
$78
Biogen, Inc.
$78
Iroko Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$78
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$75
Eli Lilly and Company
$72
CSL Behring
$63
Pacira Therapeutics, Inc.
$56
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$53
Oxford Immunotec USA Inc
$48
Sobi, Inc
$42
Boston Scientific Corporation
$40
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$36
SOBI, INC
$34
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$31
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$30
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$27
HOSPIRA, INC.
$26
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$25
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$24
BioCryst US Sales Co., LLC
$22
Celltrion USA Inc.
$20
Allergan Inc.
$19
ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, Inc.
$18
Biocon Biologics Inc
$18
Almatica Pharma LLC
$17
Novo Nordisk Inc
$17
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$16
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$14
Purdue Pharma L.P.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 32.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABRILADA · ACTHAR · AMJEVITA · AMVUTTRA · AVSOLA · Actemra · Avid CT2 NMES/IFC STIMULATOR · BENLYSTA · Bimzelx · Briviact · COSENTYX · CYLTEZO · Cimzia · Crysvita · DUEXIS · DUPIXENT · DUZALLO · Dayvigo · EVENITY · Enbrel · FABRAZYME · FORTEO · Fycompa · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · Gel-One Cross-linked Hyaluronate · Gralise · HUMIRA · Haegarda · Hizentra · Horizant · Hulio · Humira · ILARIS · INFLECTRA · KEVZARA · KEVZARA SARILUMAB INJECTION · KINERET · KRYSTEXXA · LINZESS · LOREEV XR · LUPKYNIS · LYRICA · NO PRODUCT DISCUSSED · OCTAGAM IMMUNE GLOBULIN (HUMAN) · OFEV · OLUMIANT · OPSUMIT · OPSUMIT MACITENTAN · ORENCIA · ORLADEYO · Otezla · PANZYGA · PENNSAID · PURIFIED CORTROPHIN GEL · Pro Estim · RAYOS · REMICADE · RENFLEXIS · RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DISEASE · RINVOQ · Rasuvo · Rinvoq · Rituxan · SAPHNELO · SIMPONI · SIMPONI ARIA · SKYRIZI · SPRIX · STRENSIQ · SYMPROIC · SYNVISC-ONE · Strensiq · T-SPOT.TB8 · TALTZ · TAVNEOS · TOFIDENCE · TREMFYA · TSPOT TB TEST · Tavneos · Tymlos · ULTOMIRIS · UPTRAVI · Ultomiris · VEGZELMA · VIVLODEX · WATCHMAN · WINREVAIR · Wegovy · XELJANZ · ZIPSOR · ZORVOLEX · ZTLido · Zilretta
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 (80%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in optician and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 0% for optician in CA.

Looking for an optician specialist in San Diego?
Compare opticians in the San Diego area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
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Geographic Context

Opticians within 10 mi
437
Per 100K population
13.3
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR
2.3 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. Dikranian is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 0% 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. Dikranian experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Dikranian performed 495 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Dikranian receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Dikranian received a total of $2,048,984 from 74 companies across 3,528 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. Dikranian's costs compare to other opticians in San Diego?
Dr. Dikranian's average Medicare payment per service is $87. 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. Dikranian) 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 →