Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Gitane Patel, MD

Ophthalmology · San Diego, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
6945 EL CAJON BLVD, San Diego, CA 92115
6196974600
In practice since 2007 (18 years)
NPI: 1710171434 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. Patel 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. Patel? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →

What this data tells you about Dr. Patel

Dr. Gitane Patel is an ophthalmology specialist in San Diego, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Patel performed 6,269 Medicare services across 4,244 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Patel received a total of $8,941 from 29 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 268 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. 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. Patel 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.

✓ 18 years in practice ▲ Top 15% volume in CA $8,941 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
6,269
Medicare services
Top 15% in CA for ophthalmology
4,244
Unique beneficiaries
$92
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~348 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
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider.
1,246 $97 $281
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.
1,092 $73 $200
Eye drainage system examination
An examination of the internal drainage system of the eye to assess how fluid flows and drains from the eye.
958 $20 $61
Tear duct plug insertion
A procedure to insert a small plug into the tear duct opening to help retain tears on the eye surface.
720 $171 $632
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.
380 $49 $142
Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan)
Imaging of the optic nerve.
369 $28 $81
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
269 $30 $89
Corneal topography and eye depth measurement
This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye.
218 $34 $92
Cataract surgery with lens implant
Surgical removal of the clouded natural lens of the eye and replacement with an artificial prosthetic lens to restore vision.
194 $425 $1,280
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient.
149 $99 $332
Laser removal of recurring cataract
A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule.
109 $274 $739
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.
77 $40 $107
Extended eye exam with retinal drawing
A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina.
70 $15 $53
Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness
An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea.
62 $8 $24
Removal of foreign body from external eye
This procedure involves the removal of a foreign object from the conjunctiva, which is the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye.
58 $15 $62
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.
54 $10 $34
Eyelash removal with forceps
This procedure involves the manual removal of eyelashes using forceps. It is a mechanical extraction method performed on the eyelid area.
48 $11 $42
CT scan of cornea
A computed tomography scan used to create detailed images of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye.
36 $28 $81
Laser eye fluid drainage tract creation
A laser procedure used to create drainage tracts in the iris to help fluid flow out of the eye.
32 $261 $665
Insertion of probe into nasal tear duct 32 $165 $718
Complex cataract removal with lens implant
A surgical procedure to remove a cataract from the eye and insert an artificial lens to restore vision.
27 $606 $1,680
Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow
A laser procedure used to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye.
25 $201 $533
Incision and drainage of eyelid abscess
A minor surgical procedure to cut open and drain an infected, pus-filled swelling on the eyelid.
24 $222 $657
Incision to improve eye fluid flow
A surgical procedure involving an incision to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye.
20 $714 $1,825
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.
3.1% high complexity
13.0% medium
83.9% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$8,941
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,277/year across 7 years
Top 16% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
29
Companies
268
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
$8,917 (99.7%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$24 (0.3%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$1,248
2023
$644
2022
$2,326
2021
$1,142
2020
$660
2019
$1,371
2018
$1,550

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Glaukos Corporation
$384
Alcon Vision LLC
$364
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$162
Dompe US, Inc.
$132
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$124
ABBVIE INC.
$47
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$36
Top 3 companies account for 72.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,377
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$757
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$714
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$618
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$595
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$583
Glaukos Corporation
$510
Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$405
Allergan Inc.
$371
Eyevance Pharmaceuticals LLC
$338
NEW WORLD MEDICAL,INC.
$309
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$287
EYEVANCE PHARMACEUTICALS LLC
$248
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$222
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$198
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$186
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$176
Allergan, Inc.
$160
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$132
Dompe US, Inc.
$132
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$124
ABBVIE INC.
$120
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$118
Shire North American Group Inc
$96
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$75
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$36
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$24
Beaver-Visitec International, Inc.
$18
Omeros Corporation
$12
Top 3 companies account for 31.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · ACTIVEFOCUS · AJOVY · ARGOS · AcrySof · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · AcrySof IQ VIVITY IOL · BESIVANCE · BROMSITE · BromSite (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.075% · CEQUA · COMBIGAN · Centurion · Cequa · Clareon · CyPass · DUREZOL · DURYSTA · EYSUVIS · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve · Flarex · HYDRUS Microstent · INVELTYS · Kahook Dual Blade · LUMIGAN · Luxor · MIEBO · NURTEC ODT · OMNI SURGICAL SYSTEM · OXERVATE · OZURDEX · Omidria · PanOptix · RESTASIS MULTIDOSE · Rhopressa · Rocklatan · Simbrinza · TEPEZZA · TRAVATAN Z · TYRVAYA · TobraDex ST · Tobradex ST · VUITY · VYZULTA · XDEMVY · XIIDRA · Zerviate · iDose · rhopressa · rocklatan
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 (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.

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

Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
280
Per 100K population
8.5
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - SAN DIEGO
2.2 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. Patel is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 15% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 16% of CA peers, with 18 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. Patel experienced with comprehensive eye exam, established patient?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Patel performed 1,246 comprehensive eye exam, established patient 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. Patel receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Patel received a total of $8,941 from 29 companies across 268 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. Patel's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in San Diego?
Dr. Patel's average Medicare payment per service is $92. 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. Patel) 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 →