Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sant Chawla, M.D.
Optician · Santa Monica, 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. Chawla 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. Chawla
Dr. Sant Chawla is an optician specialist in Santa Monica, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Chawla performed 75,708 Medicare services across 1,551 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Chawla received a total of $33,705 from 80 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 629 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. Chawla 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 2% volume in CA
$33,705 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗75,708
Medicare services
Top 2% in CA for optician
1,551
Unique beneficiaries
$23
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~3,785 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nivolumab injection (Opdivo) | 26,400 | $22 | $71 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 10,383 | $17 | $54 |
| Oxaliplatin chemotherapy injection This procedure involves the administration of oxaliplatin, a chemotherapy medication, via injection. The dosage specified is 0.5 mg. |
7,060 | $0 | $1 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
4,796 | $0 | $1 |
| Anti-nausea injection (Aloxi/palonosetron) | 3,810 | $1 | $5 |
| Eflapegrastim injection, 0.1 mg An injection of eflapegrastim-xnst administered at a dose of 0.1 mg. |
3,432 | $26 | $60 |
| Anti-nausea injection (ondansetron/Zofran) | 2,612 | $0 | $1 |
| Injection, potassium chloride, per 2 meq | 2,539 | $0 | $1 |
| Injection, docetaxel, 1 mg | 2,070 | $1 | $2 |
| Pegfilgrastim-cbqv injection An injection of pegfilgrastim-cbqv, a biosimilar medication, administered at a dose of 0.5 mg. |
1,716 | $108 | $585 |
| Trabectedin injection, 0.1 mg Administration of a 0.1 mg dose of trabectedin via injection. |
1,401 | $263 | $857 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
1,227 | $8 | $21 |
| Magnesium sulfate injection, per 500 mg An injection of magnesium sulfate administered in 500 mg increments. |
1,174 | $1 | $2 |
| 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. |
853 | $106 | $405 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
755 | $120 | $417 |
| Additional sequential IV infusion, 1 hour or less This code represents an additional intravenous infusion administered sequentially to a primary infusion. It covers the administration time of one hour or less. |
593 | $26 | $89 |
| Injection, gemcitabine hydrochloride, not otherwise specified, 200 mg | 575 | $3 | $15 |
| Normal saline infusion, 500 ml Administration of sterile normal saline solution through an intravenous line. This procedure involves the infusion of a 500 ml unit of the solution. |
409 | $1 | $5 |
| Doxorubicin hydrochloride injection, 10 mg This procedure involves the administration of a 10 mg dose of doxorubicin hydrochloride via injection. |
409 | $2 | $10 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
386 | $8 | $13 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
356 | $12 | $43 |
| Additional hour of intravenous hydration This code represents each additional hour of intravenous fluid administration beyond the initial hour. It is used to bill for extended hydration therapy. |
323 | $12 | $39 |
| Intravenous infusion of new drug or substance, 1 hour or less This procedure involves administering a new medication or substance directly into a vein through an existing access site. The infusion is completed within one hour or less. |
298 | $59 | $201 |
| 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. |
281 | $76 | $325 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
272 | $19 | $146 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
257 | $14 | $47 |
| Unclassified antineoplastic drug This code is used for cancer-fighting medications that do not have a specific HCPCS code assigned to them. |
236 | $0 | $0 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
143 | $58 | $204 |
| Intravenous hydration infusion, 31-60 minutes Administration of fluids into a vein to maintain hydration. This procedure involves an infusion lasting between 31 and 60 minutes. |
141 | $30 | $104 |
| 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. |
134 | $12 | $42 |
| Unclassified drug A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories. |
130 | $4 | $217 |
| IV chemotherapy initiation with community continuation Initiation of an intravenous chemotherapy infusion in a clinic using clinic supplies, with continuation of the infusion in a community setting such as home or assisted living. |
98 | $156 | $480 |
| 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. |
78 | $48 | $224 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy injection Chemotherapy medication is administered directly into a vein using a push technique. This method involves injecting the drug through a needle or catheter already placed in the vein. |
67 | $93 | $314 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
65 | $173 | $599 |
| Intravenous push injection of new drug or substance A healthcare provider injects a new medication or substance directly into a vein using a push technique. |
58 | $50 | $179 |
| Normal saline infusion, 1000 cc Administration of 1000 cc of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater solution. |
55 | $2 | $7 |
| Injection, lorazepam, 2 mg | 52 | $1 | $2 |
| 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. |
38 | $130 | $1,000 |
| Diphenhydramine injection, up to 50 mg An injection of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, an antihistamine medication, administered in a dose of up to 50 milligrams. |
26 | $1 | $3 |
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.
3.2% high complexity
91.5% medium
5.2% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$33,705
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $4,815/year across 7 years
Top 6% in CA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
80
Companies
629
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
$13,483 (40.0%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$12,692 (37.7%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$7,530 (22.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,188
2023
$3,164
2022
$7,203
2021
$4,760
2020
$7,871
2019
$4,310
2018
$4,210
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
$506
Aadi Bioscience, Inc.
$258
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$161
Eisai Inc.
$118
PFIZER INC.
$115
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$112
Lilly USA, LLC
$109
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$92
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$86
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$65
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$59
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$57
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc
$53
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$50
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$42
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$39
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$34
Incyte Corporation
$29
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$29
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
Genmab U.S., Inc.
$23
Celgene Corporation
$23
Coherus Biosciences Inc.
$22
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$22
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$20
ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.
$15
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 42.2% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$7,314
Aadi Bioscience, Inc.
$3,382
F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG
$3,093
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$2,858
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
$2,673
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$1,643
Genentech USA, Inc.
$1,342
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$754
Amgen Inc.
$702
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$588
Lilly USA, LLC
$549
Incyte Corporation
$541
Taiho Oncology, Inc.
$471
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$469
Seagen Inc.
$419
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$368
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$359
PFIZER INC.
$340
Kite Pharma, Inc.
$326
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$310
Celgene Corporation
$288
Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.
$276
Eisai Inc.
$267
Foundation Medicine, Inc.
$267
Coherus Biosciences Inc.
$247
Clovis Oncology, Inc.
$197
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
$186
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC
$172
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$166
GENZYME CORPORATION
$165
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$156
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$151
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$151
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$135
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc
$131
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$111
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$110
TESARO, Inc.
$109
Epizyme, Inc.,
$104
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$101
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$95
Blueprint Medicines Corporation
$91
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$89
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$85
West Therapeutics Development, LLC
$82
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$73
TerSera Therapeutics LLC
$72
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$68
Stemline Therapeutics Inc.
$68
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$67
Genmab U.S., Inc.
$54
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.
$50
ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.
$49
Array BioPharma Inc.
$48
G1 Therapeutics, Inc.
$48
INSYS Therapeutics Inc
$46
Mylan Institutional Inc.
$41
PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
$39
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$39
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$38
BeiGene USA, Inc.
$34
Partner Therapeutics, Inc.
$33
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$33
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$32
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$31
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$29
ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC
$25
GE HealthCare
$24
Genentech, Inc.
$24
Organon LLC
$24
CTI BioPharma Corp.
$24
AbbVie Inc.
$23
EISAI INC.
$21
MorphoSys, US Inc.
$19
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$18
ImmunoGen, Inc.
$18
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
$17
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
SpringWorks Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
R-Pharm US LLC
$13
Top 3 companies account for 40.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABIRATERONE ACETATE · ADCETRIS · AKYNZEO · ALIMTA · ALOXI · ALUNBRIG · AMVUTTRA · AUGTYRO · AVASTIN · AYVAKIT · Alecensa · Aranesp · Avastin · BENDEKA · BOSULIF · BRAFTOVI · BRUKINSA · Braftovi · CINVANTI · COSELA · CREON · CYRAMZA · ELZONRIS · ENHERTU · Elahere · Enhertu · Epkinly · Erleada · FASENRA · FASLODEX · FOUNDATIONONE · FOUNDATIONONE CDX · FRUZAQLA · FYARRO · Fabhalta · Fyarro · GAUCHER-DISEASE · GILOTRIF · GRANIX · Halaven · Herceptin · IBRANCE · ICLUSIG · IMBRUVICA · IMFINZI · INJECTAFER · INLYTA · INQOVI · Ixempra · JAKAFI · JEMPERLI · JEVTANA · KEYTRUDA · Kyprolis · LARTRUVO · LIBTAYO · LUMAKRAS · LUTATHERA · LYNPARZA · Lazanda · Lenvima · Leukine · Lonsurf · MEKINIST · MONJUVI · MVASI · NINLARO · Nalocet · Nerlynx · Neulasta · Non-Covered Product · Nplate · ODOMZO · OGSIVEO · ONTRUZANT · OPDIVO · OPDUALAG · Ogivri · Orserdu · PADCEV · PEMAZYRE · PLUVICTO · PROVENGE · PYLARIFY · PYRUKYND · Padcev · Pomalyst · QINLOCK · Quzyttir · REBLOZYL · RETACRIT · ROLVEDON · Revlimid · Rubraca · SANCUSO · SUSTOL · SUTENT · SYNDROS · Stimufend · Stivarga · Subsys · Sustol · TABRECTA · TAGRISSO · TAZVERIK · TECENTRIQ · TUKYSA · Tazverik · Tecentriq · Trodelvy · Turalio · Udenyca · VERZENIO · Vitrakvi · Vonjo · Vyloy · XGEVA · XPOVIO · Xermelo · Xospata · YONDELIS · YONSA · ZEJULA · ZEPZELCA
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 (40%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 6% for optician in CA.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
1,477
Per 100K population
15.0
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
SANTA MONICA - UCLA MED CTR & ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL
1.1 mi
1.1 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. Chawla is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in CA), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 6% of CA peers, 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. Chawla experienced with nivolumab injection (opdivo)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Chawla performed 26,400 nivolumab injection (opdivo) 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. Chawla receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Chawla received a total of $33,705 from 80 companies across 629 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. Chawla's costs compare to other opticians in Santa Monica?
Dr. Chawla's average Medicare payment per service is $23. 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. Chawla) 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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