Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Mark Watkins
Optician · Brunswick, GA
Practice pattern: Remote & Electrophysiology
— Practice combining remote and electrophysiology services
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. Watkins 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. Watkins
Dr. Mark Watkins is an optician specialist in Brunswick, GA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Watkins performed 7,938 Medicare services across 4,904 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Watkins received a total of $4,028 from 28 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 173 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. Watkins 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 6% volume in GA
$4,028 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗7,938
Medicare services
Top 6% in GA for optician
4,904
Unique beneficiaries
$59
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~418 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
1,590 | $81 | $323 |
| 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. |
490 | $10 | $51 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
426 | $122 | $673 |
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
412 | $14 | $77 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
399 | $4 | $16 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart rhythm device Evaluation of data transmitted remotely from an implantable cardiovascular monitor, such as a loop recorder or subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor, over a period up to 30 days. |
375 | $46 | $104 |
| Remote pacemaker monitoring, 90 days Remote assessment of a pacemaker system, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless devices, performed up to 90 days apart. |
339 | $20 | $104 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
313 | $128 | $597 |
| 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. |
302 | $56 | $220 |
| Remote cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation, up to 30 days Review and analysis of data from a remote cardiac rhythm monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
293 | $18 | $86 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
287 | $58 | $220 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
204 | $85 | $318 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
196 | $8 | $17 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
193 | $121 | $620 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
180 | $50 | $175 |
| Continuous EKG monitoring review, 48-7 days Review and interpretation of continuous external EKG recordings lasting more than 48 hours up to 7 days. |
175 | $16 | $74 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
175 | $86 | $354 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
169 | $10 | $45 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
150 | $13 | $54 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart device, up to 30 days Remote evaluation of an implanted heart or blood vessel monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
133 | $18 | $86 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 48 hours to 7 days This procedure involves recording the heart's electrical activity continuously using an external device for a period exceeding 48 hours but not more than 7 days. |
116 | $7 | $44 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
93 | $45 | $228 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
90 | $307 | $1,431 |
| 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. |
86 | $110 | $497 |
| Remote evaluation of implantable defibrillator system Remote assessment of a single, dual, or multiple lead implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the previous evaluation. |
73 | $25 | $207 |
| Coronary angiography A procedure to insert a tube into a coronary artery to capture diagnostic images of the heart's blood vessels. |
63 | $169 | $780 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
60 | $48 | $161 |
| Adenosine injection, 1 mg Administration of a 1 mg dose of adenosine medication. This code is specifically for adenosine and excludes adenosine phosphate compounds. |
57 | $0 | $2 |
| Complete ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts A complete ultrasound exam of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. This imaging test uses sound waves to visualize these blood vessels. |
56 | $106 | $662 |
| 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. |
54 | $131 | $436 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
48 | $60 | $367 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
33 | $16 | $79 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
32 | $15 | $68 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
32 | $10 | $45 |
| Pacemaker programming, single lead Adjustment and testing of a single-lead pacemaker to ensure it functions correctly. |
25 | $40 | $150 |
| Stress echocardiogram with ECG monitoring An ultrasound of the heart performed while monitoring heart rhythm during rest, exercise, or medication-induced stress, followed by a review and report of the findings. |
25 | $166 | $828 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
21 | $70 | $336 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 20 | $219 | $963 |
| Insertion of implantable heart rhythm monitor A small device is placed under the skin to continuously record the heart's electrical activity. This helps detect irregular heart rhythms that may not appear during a standard office visit. |
19 | $61 | $290 |
| Pacemaker insertion with heart chamber electrodes A surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker device and place electrodes into the upper and lower chambers of the heart to regulate heart rhythm. |
18 | $317 | $1,680 |
| 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. |
18 | $8 | $33 |
| Evaluation of implantable heart and blood vessel monitoring system This procedure involves checking the function and data of an implanted device used to monitor heart and blood vessel activity. |
15 | $27 | $92 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries A non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to examine the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It evaluates blood flow and checks for blockages or other vascular issues. |
15 | $81 | $406 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
15 | $124 | $555 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
14 | $16 | $56 |
| External shock to heart to regulate heart beat A procedure that delivers an electric shock to the heart from outside the body to restore a normal heart rhythm. |
14 | $76 | $477 |
| Pacemaker system evaluation Assessment of a pacemaker device, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless systems. |
13 | $39 | $112 |
| Tube insertion in bypass graft for diagnosis A tube is inserted into a bypass graft to allow for diagnostic evaluation. A radiologist reviews the procedure. |
12 | $201 | $908 |
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.
20.2% high complexity
12.3% medium
67.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$4,028
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $575/year across 7 years
Top 26% in GA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
28
Companies
173
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
$3,828 (95.0%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$200 (5.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$506
2023
$438
2022
$562
2021
$431
2020
$303
2019
$1,006
2018
$781
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$243
ABIOMED
$99
Amgen Inc.
$98
Inari Medical, Inc.
$38
Medtronic, Inc.
$29
Top 3 companies account for 86.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$762
Amgen Inc.
$610
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$410
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$280
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$223
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$197
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$180
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$159
Boston Scientific Corporation
$150
Abbott Laboratories
$128
Biosense Webster, Inc.
$125
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$119
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$105
ABIOMED
$99
Medtronic, Inc.
$92
Cardinal Health 200, LLC
$70
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$57
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$42
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$38
Inari Medical, Inc.
$38
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$29
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$28
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$22
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$17
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$16
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
AtriCure, Inc.
$11
PFIZER INC.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 44.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Advisa · Azure · BEXSERO · BRILINTA · CAMZYOS · CARDIOMEMS · CARTO 3 · CHANTIX · CareLink · Corlanor · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · EPI-SENSE GUIDED COAGULATION SYS · FARXIGA · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · Impella · JARDIANCE · LEXISCAN · LINQ II · Livalo · MYCARELINK · Micra · Mitra Clip system · MitraClip System · NEXLETOL · PEDIARIX · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PlasmaBlade · Repatha · Resolute · Reveal LINQ · S · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · THORATEC HEARTMATE 3 LVAS IMPLANT KIT · VERQUVO · Visia AF · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · XARELTO
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 (95%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
16
Per 100K population
18.8
County median income
$68,546
Nearest hospital
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM- BRUNSWICK CAMPUS
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 reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Watkins is a remote & electrophysiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% in GA), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Watkins experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Watkins performed 1,590 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Watkins receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Watkins received a total of $4,028 from 28 companies across 173 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. Watkins's costs compare to other opticians in Brunswick?
Dr. Watkins's average Medicare payment per service is $59. 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. Watkins) 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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