Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Richard Rowe, MD
Optician · Macon, GA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Rowe 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. Rowe
Dr. Richard Rowe is an optician specialist in Macon, GA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Rowe performed 8,475 Medicare services across 974 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Rowe received a total of $752 from 23 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 38 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. Rowe 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 5% volume in GA
$752 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,475
Medicare services
Top 5% in GA for optician
974
Unique beneficiaries
$15
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~446 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI contrast dye injection (gadobutrol) | 7,175 | $0 | $6 |
| 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. |
284 | $62 | $148 |
| 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. |
156 | $59 | $163 |
| Low osmolar contrast material, 100-199 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml | 119 | $1 | $6 |
| 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. |
77 | $84 | $205 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the lower back and sacral spine to visualize the bones and joints in this area. |
75 | $27 | $374 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, low complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an established patient with straightforward or low-level medical decision making. The visit requires at least 25 minutes of time spent on the day of service. |
62 | $37 | $121 |
| 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. |
54 | $80 | $264 |
| MRI of brain with and without contrast An MRI scan of the brain using contrast dye both before and after administration to provide detailed images of brain structures. |
51 | $229 | $4,834 |
| CT scan of head/brain, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the head or brain without the use of contrast dye. |
39 | $68 | $1,314 |
| Spinal fusion of additional segment A surgical procedure to join an additional section of the spine to the existing fusion. This is performed as a separate or subsequent step to stabilize more of the spinal column. |
36 | $300 | $2,783 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
32 | $32 | $374 |
| Spine fusion with cage or mesh device insertion A surgical procedure to fuse spine bones by inserting a cage or mesh device into the disc space. |
29 | $177 | $2,810 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and structures. |
29 | $26 | $263 |
| MRI of upper spine without contrast An MRI scan of the upper spinal canal that does not use contrast dye. This imaging test uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the spine. |
27 | $128 | $3,113 |
| MRI of lower spine, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lower spinal canal that does not use contrast dye to create detailed images of the spine. |
25 | $128 | $3,113 |
| 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. |
24 | $120 | $361 |
| CT scan of lower spine with contrast A computed tomography scan of the lower spine using a contrast dye to enhance the images. This imaging test provides detailed views of the spinal structures. |
22 | $122 | $2,072 |
| MRI of lower spine with and without contrast An MRI scan of the lower spinal canal performed both before and after the administration of contrast dye to enhance image detail. |
21 | $219 | $4,759 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that produces two views of the middle section of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
20 | $23 | $229 |
| Aspiration of bone marrow for spine bone graft | 16 | $54 | $1,100 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures three different views of the middle section of the spine to evaluate its structure. |
16 | $28 | $254 |
| Computer-assisted spinal procedure A surgical or diagnostic procedure involving the spine that utilizes computer technology to assist with planning, navigation, or execution. |
15 | $178 | $1,810 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 4-5 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using 4 to 5 different views to visualize the bones and structures in that area. |
15 | $38 | $349 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, 1 segment A surgical procedure involving the partial removal of a bone segment in the spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This is performed on a single spinal segment. |
12 | $547 | $10,095 |
| Fusion of spine in lower back | 11 | $1,176 | $10,741 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 3-6 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize three to six vertebrae in the back. |
11 | $585 | $6,639 |
| X-ray of lower spinal canal An X-ray image of the lower part of the spinal canal is taken. A radiologist reviews the images to evaluate the area. |
11 | $175 | $2,145 |
| X-ray of multiple spinal canal regions An X-ray imaging test that captures multiple areas of the spinal canal. A radiologist reviews the images to evaluate the spine. |
11 | $204 | $2,200 |
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.
0.9% high complexity
86.8% medium
12.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$752
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $107/year across 7 years
Bottom 44% in GA for optician
23
Companies
38
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
$739 (98.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$13 (1.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$100
2023
$43
2022
$110
2021
$196
2020
$27
2019
$142
2018
$134
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Baxter Healthcare
$34
Stryker Corporation
$25
Boston Scientific Corporation
$21
Innovation Technologies Inc
$20
Top 3 companies account for 80.2% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Baxter Healthcare
$107
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$60
Stryker Corporation
$60
SK Life Science, Inc.
$59
Nevro Corp.
$59
Novocure Inc.
$45
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$43
Integra LifeSciences Corporation
$42
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.
$34
SI-BONE, Inc.
$30
DJO, LLC
$23
Boston Scientific Corporation
$21
Aesculap, Inc.
$21
PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
$20
Innovation Technologies Inc
$20
CSL Behring
$17
Aziyo Biologics, Inc.
$16
UCB, Inc.
$15
Spineology Inc.
$14
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$14
IRRAS USA, Inc.
$13
Brainlab, Inc.
$10
Cerapedics, Inc.
$9
Top 3 companies account for 30.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ANASTOCLIP GC 8CM (MEDIUM) · ANDEXXA · Andexxa · BEVYXXA · CMF SPINALOGIC · CODMAN CERTAS · ECM Patch · FLOSEAL · IRRAFLOW · IRRISEPT · Image Guided Surgical Device · Kcentra · MINOP MODULAR NEUROENDOSCOPY SYSTEM · NA · Oncology · Pouch · Rampart Duo Interbody Fusion System · SPINEJACK · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · Vimpat · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · i-FACTOR Putty · iFuse Implant
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 (98%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
52
Per 100K population
33.2
County median income
$50,747
Nearest hospital
ATRIUM HEALTH NAVICENT THE MEDICAL CENTER
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. Rowe is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% 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. Rowe experienced with mri contrast dye injection (gadobutrol)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Rowe performed 7,175 mri contrast dye injection (gadobutrol) 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. Rowe receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Rowe received a total of $752 from 23 companies across 38 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. Rowe's costs compare to other opticians in Macon?
Dr. Rowe's average Medicare payment per service is $15. 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. Rowe) 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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