Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Amer Zarka, M.D.
Optician · Santa Ana, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
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. Zarka 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. Zarka
Dr. Amer Zarka is an optician specialist in Santa Ana, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Zarka performed 6,465 Medicare services across 1,599 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Zarka received a total of $5,906 from 32 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 250 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in optician. 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. Zarka 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 14% volume in CA
$5,906 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗6,465
Medicare services
Top 14% in CA for optician
1,599
Unique beneficiaries
$86
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~340 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
1,614 | $100 | $210 |
| 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. |
795 | $105 | $285 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
629 | $67 | $148 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
545 | $42 | $150 |
| Remote vital sign monitoring management, each additional 20 minutes This code covers the time spent by a provider managing patient data from remote vital sign monitoring devices. It applies to each additional 20-minute increment beyond the initial monthly service period. |
545 | $34 | $100 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
542 | $53 | $125 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
463 | $46 | $160 |
| Critical care, first 30-74 min Emergency medical care for a critically ill or injured patient lasting between 30 and 74 minutes. This service involves direct patient care and medical decision making to stabilize the patient. |
332 | $178 | $455 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
219 | $143 | $474 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
160 | $174 | $470 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
139 | $129 | $400 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
104 | $12 | $35 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
99 | $7 | $27 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
69 | $144 | $318 |
| Pacemaker system evaluation Assessment of a pacemaker device, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless systems. |
59 | $49 | $135 |
| 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. |
53 | $126 | $370 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
24 | $22 | $55 |
| Programming of dual lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with two leads to ensure proper function. |
21 | $90 | $230 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
16 | $161 | $460 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
13 | $216 | $600 |
| Ultrasound of abdominal aorta An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the abdominal aorta, the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lower body. |
12 | $126 | $260 |
| 30-day continuous ECG with patient-triggered event transmission and review This procedure involves continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days, including the transmission of patient-triggered events. A healthcare professional reviews the data and provides a report. |
12 | $805 | $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.
4.6% high complexity
3.1% medium
92.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$5,906
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $844/year across 7 years
Top 20% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
32
Companies
250
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
$5,479 (92.8%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$427 (7.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$698
2023
$615
2022
$1,427
2021
$725
2020
$747
2019
$1,308
2018
$386
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$161
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$137
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$91
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$78
ATRICURE, INC.
$63
Amgen Inc.
$57
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$48
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$28
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Abbott Laboratories
$15
Top 3 companies account for 55.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$837
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$668
Boston Scientific Corporation
$623
Amgen Inc.
$533
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$364
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$304
Abbott Laboratories
$302
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$263
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$256
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$245
Novo Nordisk Inc
$212
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$187
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$133
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$107
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$100
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$95
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$91
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$85
PFIZER INC.
$80
ATRICURE, INC.
$63
Lilly USA, LLC
$60
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$48
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$43
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$39
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$31
HeartFlow, Inc.
$30
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$25
Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
$23
Noden Pharma USA Inc
$16
Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
$15
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$14
ABIOMED
$14
Top 3 companies account for 36.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ASSURITY · ATRICLIP LAA EXCLUSION SYSTEM · Arcalyst · BELSOMRA · BRILINTA · Carnation Ambulatory Monitor · Confirm Rx · Corlanor · Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System · EDWARDS SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE (THV) · ELIQUIS · EMBLEM · ENTRESTO · FARXIGA · FUROSCIX · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL - THERAPIES · General - Therapies · Impella · Inpefa · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LUX DX · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · MITRACLIP · MOUNJARO · MitraClip System · Ozempic · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · RESONATE · Repatha · TEKTURNA · VERQUVO · VIGILANT · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · XARELTO · iPro2
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 (93%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
895
Per 100K population
28.3
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
COASTAL COMMUNITIES HOSPITAL
2.1 mi
2.1 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. Zarka is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 14% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 20% 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. Zarka experienced with hospital follow-up visit, high complexity?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Zarka performed 1,614 hospital follow-up visit, high complexity 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. Zarka receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Zarka received a total of $5,906 from 32 companies across 250 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. Zarka's costs compare to other opticians in Santa Ana?
Dr. Zarka's average Medicare payment per service is $86. 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. Zarka) 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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