Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Couvillion, MD
Ophthalmology · Santa Barbara, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Mixed 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. Couvillion 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. Couvillion
Dr. Stephen Couvillion is an ophthalmology specialist in Santa Barbara, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Couvillion performed 63,152 Medicare services across 7,113 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Couvillion received a total of $25,727 from 23 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 198 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. Couvillion 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 0% volume in CA
$25,727 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗63,152
Medicare services
Top 0% in CA for ophthalmology
7,113
Unique beneficiaries
$101
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~3,324 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. |
35,940 | $29 | $70 |
| Ranibizumab-eqrn injection, 0.1 mg An injection of the biosimilar medication ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli) in a 0.1 mg dose. |
7,060 | $219 | $754 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
4,832 | $32 | $120 |
| Eye injection for retinal disease A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye. |
3,434 | $117 | $1,009 |
| Injection, ranibizumab, 0.1 mg | 2,342 | $178 | $595 |
| Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) | 2,332 | $690 | $1,521 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
1,835 | $100 | $194 |
| Ranibizumab-nuna biosimilar injection, 0.1 mg An injection of the biosimilar medication ranibizumab-nuna (Byooviz) at a dose of 0.1 mg. |
1,765 | $179 | $400 |
| 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. |
865 | $77 | $139 |
| 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. |
720 | $28 | $100 |
| 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. |
474 | $13 | $169 |
| Unclassified drug A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories. |
366 | $1,220 | $3,049 |
| 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. |
322 | $106 | $176 |
| Dexamethasone intravitreal implant injection An injection of a dexamethasone implant placed inside the eye. This procedure delivers medication directly into the vitreous cavity of the eye. |
224 | $159 | $500 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, new patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient. |
144 | $115 | $204 |
| 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. |
104 | $68 | $106 |
| Extended eye exam with retinal drawing A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina. |
82 | $18 | $177 |
| 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. |
35 | $100 | $196 |
| 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. |
34 | $291 | $1,669 |
| 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. |
34 | $74 | $167 |
| 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. |
28 | $42 | $225 |
| Fluorescein angiography of the eye An imaging test of the front part of the eye using a special camera after a dye is injected to visualize blood flow. |
28 | $133 | $200 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
28 | $45 | $80 |
| 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. |
26 | $198 | $1,506 |
| 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. |
25 | $125 | $220 |
| 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. |
23 | $959 | $4,555 |
| Bevacizumab injection, 10 mg Administration of a 10 mg dose of bevacizumab medication via injection. |
23 | $54 | $140 |
| Laser vitreolysis A laser procedure used to destroy fluid in the vitreous of the eye, located between the lens and the retina. |
14 | $689 | $4,555 |
| Retinal laser destruction of growth A laser procedure used to destroy abnormal growths in the retina. |
13 | $441 | $1,600 |
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 ↗$25,727
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $3,675/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.
23
Companies
198
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
$12,761 (49.6%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$12,711 (49.4%)
Financial / Ownership
Ownership or investment interests, royalties, and licensing fees
$255 (1.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,735
2023
$3,739
2022
$1,240
2021
$276
2020
$2,014
2019
$2,996
2018
$12,727
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,524
ABBVIE INC.
$422
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$218
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$176
Genentech USA, Inc.
$154
Iridex Corporation
$107
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$104
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$29
Top 3 companies account for 79.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Genentech USA, Inc.
$13,138
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
$4,329
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,774
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$1,294
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$929
Genentech, Inc.
$887
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$674
ABBVIE INC.
$557
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$329
US Retina LLC
$255
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$189
AbbVie Inc.
$174
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$159
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$150
Iridex Corporation
$143
Allergan Inc.
$141
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$137
Ivantis, Inc
$134
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$101
Allergan, Inc.
$90
Biogen, Inc.
$65
ABB Con-Cise Optical Group LLC
$62
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$18
Top 3 companies account for 74.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
BROLUCIZUMAB · Constellation · Contact Lens · DEXYCU · DUREZOL · EYLEA · EYLEA AFLIBERCEPT INJECTION · EYLEA HD · Hydrus · ILUVIEN · Iluvien · Izervay · LOTEMAX · LUMIGAN · Lucentis · MIEBO · NGENUITY · Non-Covered Product · OZURDEX · Rhopressa · SUSVIMO · Susvimo · Syfovre · VISULAS 532s · Vabysmo · XIPERE · YUTIQ
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 (50%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 9% for ophthalmology in CA.
Geographic Context
Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
21
Per 100K population
4.7
County median income
$95,977
Nearest hospital
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH FACILITY
5.0 mi
5.0 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. Couvillion is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 0% in CA), with mixed engagement 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. Couvillion experienced with eye injection (vabysmo/faricimab)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Couvillion performed 35,940 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. Couvillion receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Couvillion received a total of $25,727 from 23 companies across 198 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. Couvillion's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Santa Barbara?
Dr. Couvillion's average Medicare payment per service is $101. 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. Couvillion) 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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