Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Erin Forest, M.D.
Optician · Vero Beach, FL
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. Forest 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 →
Are you Dr. Forest?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Forest
Dr. Erin Forest is an optician specialist in Vero Beach, FL, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Forest performed 7,307 Medicare services across 2,593 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Forest received a total of $2,672 from 21 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 50 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. Forest is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 13% volume in FL
$2,672 industry payments
Florida License Status
FL DOH · MQA1
Active license
None
Board action on record
0
Recent admin complaints
| Profession | License # | Status | Expires | Board Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Doctor | 125654 | Clear | January 31, 2028 | — |
Data from Florida Department of Health Medical Quality Assurance.
License records are public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
Verify directly on FL DOH →
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗7,307
Medicare services
Top 13% in FL for optician
2,593
Unique beneficiaries
$42
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~385 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
2,701 | $0 | $1 |
| Collagenase injection, 0.01 mg An injection of collagenase enzyme to break down collagen tissue. The dose specified is 0.01 milligrams. |
1,350 | $50 | $93 |
| 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. |
634 | $70 | $195 |
| 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. |
406 | $96 | $271 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
260 | $37 | $96 |
| Physical therapy exercise, per 15 min A therapy session using exercises to improve strength, endurance, range of motion, and flexibility. Each 15-minute unit is billed separately. |
227 | $20 | $64 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
221 | $42 | $148 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
198 | $45 | $134 |
| X-ray of finger, minimum of 2 views An X-ray imaging test of a finger using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
179 | $33 | $82 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
142 | $85 | $230 |
| 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. |
126 | $122 | $350 |
| Manual therapy (hands-on treatment), per 15 min | 121 | $17 | $60 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
106 | $31 | $91 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
78 | $54 | $171 |
| 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. |
71 | $44 | $119 |
| Wrist X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the wrist using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
58 | $28 | $72 |
| Hand nerve release or relocation A surgical procedure to release or reposition a nerve in the hand. |
55 | $372 | $2,931 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
55 | $37 | $109 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, medium joint Removal of fluid from a medium-sized joint or injection of medication into the joint space. |
44 | $48 | $156 |
| Injection of carpal tunnel | 34 | $74 | $246 |
| Elbow X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the elbow joint that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
24 | $28 | $92 |
| MRI of arm joint, without contrast An MRI scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the arm joint. This specific procedure is performed without the use of a contrast dye. |
24 | $111 | $930 |
| Self-care/home management training, per 15 min Instruction provided to help patients manage their own care or daily activities at home. The service is billed in 15-minute increments. |
21 | $20 | $41 |
| Aspiration or injection of tendon cyst This procedure involves draining fluid from a cyst on a tendon or injecting medication into it. |
20 | $46 | $170 |
| Ultrasound therapy, each 15 minutes Application of ultrasound waves to tissue for therapeutic purposes. The procedure is billed in 15-minute increments. |
20 | $9 | $31 |
| Tendon relocation of forearm or wrist A surgical procedure to reposition a tendon in the forearm or wrist to restore proper function or alignment. |
18 | $272 | $1,402 |
| Wrist to finger joint removal Surgical removal of the bones forming the joints between the wrist and the fingers. |
18 | $728 | $2,451 |
| Finger manipulation for connective tissue release A procedure involving the manipulation of a finger to release connective tissue after an enzyme injection has been administered. |
18 | $75 | $160 |
| Medication injection into palm A procedure involving the injection of medication into the palm of the hand. |
16 | $57 | $183 |
| Evaluation for occupational therapy, typically 30 minutes | 14 | $78 | $116 |
| Elbow X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the elbow joint using two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
13 | $18 | $70 |
| Incision of finger tendon sheath A surgical procedure to cut open the protective covering of a finger tendon. |
12 | $491 | $1,013 |
| Removal of tendon growth, finger or hand A procedure to remove a growth from a tendon in the finger or hand. |
12 | $258 | $1,750 |
| Open treatment of distal radius fracture with internal fixation Surgical repair of a broken wrist bone involving three or more fragments on the thumb side, stabilized with an internal device. |
11 | $953 | $3,491 |
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 ↗$2,672
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $382/year across 7 years
Top 33% in FL for optician
21
Companies
50
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
$1,472 (55.1%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$1,200 (44.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$76
2023
$710
2022
$68
2021
$1,397
2020
$197
2019
$115
2018
$108
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
SOUTHERN EDGE ORTHOPAEDICS, INC.
$1,200
Arthrex, Inc.
$606
Amgen Inc.
$237
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$197
Catalyst OrthoScience
$73
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$61
Bioventus LLC
$50
Endo USA, Inc.
$40
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$27
Vericel Corporation
$22
Avanos Medical
$21
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$17
Radius Health, Inc.
$17
WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
$15
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$14
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$14
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$14
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$13
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$13
Checkpoint Surgical, Inc
$12
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 76.5% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AQUAMANTYS · Catalyst TSR · Cervical-Stim Osteogenesis Stimulator · Checkpoint Stimulators · Durolane · EVENITY · Exogen · Exogen Ultrasound Bone Healing System · Exparel · GENERATOR · GRAFIX PL · KRYSTEXXA · MACI · Multiloc · ONPATTRO · Prolia · SIMPLICITI · Tymlos · ULTRAVATE · VA-LCP · XIAFLEX · Zilretta
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 (55%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $37 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
61
Per 100K population
37.2
County median income
$71,049
Nearest hospital
CLEVELAND CLINIC INDIAN RIVER HOSPITAL
0.0 mi
0.0 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 measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Forest is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 13% in FL), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data. It describes data availability and patterns — not clinical quality. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Forest experienced with dexamethasone injection (steroid)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Forest performed 2,701 dexamethasone injection (steroid) 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. Forest receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Forest received a total of $2,672 from 21 companies across 50 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. Forest's costs compare to other opticians in Vero Beach?
Dr. Forest's average Medicare payment per service is $42. 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. Forest) 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. The Transparency Score measures 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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