Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Stuart Winthrop, M.D.

Ophthalmology · Santa Barbara, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
515 E MICHELTORENA ST, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
8059634272
In practice since 2005 (20 years)
NPI: 1356344485 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. Winthrop 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. Winthrop

Dr. Stuart Winthrop is an ophthalmology specialist in Santa Barbara, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Winthrop performed 8,490 Medicare services across 6,438 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Winthrop received a total of $4,295 from 18 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 77 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. Winthrop 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.

✓ 20 years in practice ▲ Top 11% volume in CA $4,295 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
8,490
Medicare services
Top 11% in CA for ophthalmology
6,438
Unique beneficiaries
$80
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~424 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.
1,837 $91 $155
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.
1,696 $66 $110
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
1,194 $30 $49
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.
882 $27 $46
Corneal topography and eye depth measurement
This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye.
613 $19 $31
Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan)
Imaging of the optic nerve.
606 $27 $45
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient.
380 $97 $182
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.
339 $49 $78
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.
317 $435 $643
Tear duct plug insertion
A procedure to insert a small plug into the tear duct opening to help retain tears on the eye surface.
303 $89 $180
Laser removal of recurring cataract
A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule.
201 $264 $417
Cataract removal with artificial lens and drainage device insertion
Surgical removal of the eye's natural lens followed by the insertion of an artificial lens and a drainage device into the front chamber of the eye.
38 $544 $806
New patient eye exam, problem focused
A focused examination of the visual system performed during a new patient visit.
29 $57 $105
Complex cataract removal with lens implant
A surgical procedure to remove a cataract from the eye and insert an artificial lens to restore vision.
20 $600 $1,241
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.
19 $248 $364
CT scan of cornea
A computed tomography scan used to create detailed images of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye.
16 $27 $45
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.
3.7% high complexity
21.4% medium
74.9% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$4,295
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $614/year across 7 years
Top 27% in CA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
18
Companies
77
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
$4,295 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$360
2023
$738
2022
$507
2021
$100
2020
$244
2019
$1,429
2018
$918

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$206
Dompe US, Inc.
$111
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$43
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Alcon Vision LLC
$1,099
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$533
Glaukos Corporation
$476
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$426
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$347
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$240
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$227
Ivantis, Inc
$167
Biogen, Inc.
$130
Allergan Inc.
$125
Dompe US, Inc.
$111
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$102
AbbVie Inc.
$90
NEW WORLD MEDICAL,INC.
$60
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$51
GLAUKOS CORPORATION
$48
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$43
Shire North American Group Inc
$20
Top 3 companies account for 49.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ARGOS · AcrySof · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · Ahmed Glaucoma Valve · Centurion · Clareon · EYLEA AFLIBERCEPT INJECTION · EYLEA HD · Hydrus · ILUVIEN · ISTENT INJECT W · ISTENT TRABECULAR MICRO-BYPASS STENT SYSTEM · LOTEMAX SM · LUMIGAN · MIEBO · OMNI · ORA · ORA System VerifEye · OXERVATE · PanOptix · ReSTOR · Rhopressa · SYMPHONY · Tecnis Toric 1-piece IOL · VUITY · VYZULTA · Wavelight Refractive Suite · XIIDRA · iStent inject Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent System · iStent inject W
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 Santa Barbara?
Compare ophthalmologists in the Santa Barbara area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse ophthalmologists nearby

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

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. Winthrop is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Winthrop experienced with comprehensive eye exam, established patient?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Winthrop performed 1,837 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. Winthrop receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Winthrop received a total of $4,295 from 18 companies across 77 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. Winthrop's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Santa Barbara?
Dr. Winthrop's average Medicare payment per service is $80. 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. Winthrop) 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 →