Dr. Philip Ngai, M.D.
What this data tells you about Dr. Ngai
Dr. Philip Ngai is an ophthalmology specialist in West Covina, CA, with 12 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Ngai performed 18,699 Medicare services across 9,409 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Ngai received a total of $33,268 from 24 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 160 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Ngai 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.
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended eye exam with retinal drawing A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina. |
3,914 | $22 | $129 |
| Eye drainage system examination An examination of the internal drainage system of the eye to assess how fluid flows and drains from the eye. |
3,416 | $25 | $120 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
2,202 | $35 | $120 |
| 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. |
2,183 | $149 | $510 |
| 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. |
1,900 | $58 | $240 |
| Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan) Imaging of the optic nerve. |
1,093 | $31 | $150 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
900 | $110 | $450 |
| 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. |
458 | $111 | $394 |
| Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea. |
379 | $10 | $60 |
| Corneal topography and eye depth measurement This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. |
378 | $22 | $253 |
| 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. |
283 | $130 | $569 |
| Tear duct plug insertion A procedure to insert a small plug into the tear duct opening to help retain tears on the eye surface. |
195 | $102 | $510 |
| 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. |
194 | $33 | $210 |
| CT scan of cornea A computed tomography scan used to create detailed images of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. |
183 | $33 | $150 |
| Eye deviation and range of motion exam An examination to measure eye deviation and assess the range of motion of the eyes. |
172 | $57 | $210 |
| Multiple eye pressure measurements over time This procedure involves taking several measurements of the fluid pressure inside the eye across an extended period. It is used to monitor intraocular pressure levels. |
154 | $82 | $265 |
| Complex cataract removal with lens implant A surgical procedure to remove a cataract from the eye and insert an artificial lens to restore vision. |
148 | $664 | $2,700 |
| Laser removal of recurring cataract A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule. |
95 | $306 | $1,080 |
| Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow A laser procedure used to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye. |
81 | $221 | $839 |
| Eye photography Photographic imaging of the interior structures of the eye. |
77 | $21 | $90 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 71 | $167 | $690 |
| Dilation of eye fluid drainage A procedure to widen the drainage pathways in the eye to help fluid flow out more easily. |
60 | $291 | $2,572 |
| 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. |
60 | $20 | $265 |
| Complex cataract removal with lens and drainage device insertion This procedure involves the complex removal of a cataract from the eye, followed by the insertion of an artificial lens and a drainage device into the front chamber of the eye. |
50 | $770 | $2,900 |
| 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. |
15 | $469 | $2,124 |
| Visual field test, intermediate A test that measures your side vision to check for blind spots or other vision changes. |
15 | $42 | $165 |
| Eyelid growth removal A procedure to remove a growth from the eyelid. |
12 | $254 | $1,090 |
| Removal of excessive skin and fat of upper eyelid | 11 | $696 | $2,790 |
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Payments by company (2024)
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
The majority of payments (68%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in ophthalmology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for ophthalmology in CA.
Geographic Context
2.8 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. Ngai is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in CA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 8% of CA peers.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
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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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