Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Tonya McCullough, M.D.
Optician · Savannah, GA
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. McCullough 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. McCullough
Dr. Tonya McCullough is an optician specialist in Savannah, GA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. McCullough performed 3,801 Medicare services across 2,052 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. McCullough received a total of $7,546 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 235 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. McCullough 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 15% volume in GA
$7,546 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,801
Medicare services
Top 15% in GA for optician
2,052
Unique beneficiaries
$37
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
1,588 | $4 | $44 |
| 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. |
588 | $55 | $125 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
443 | $33 | $169 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
202 | $58 | $219 |
| 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. |
171 | $34 | $112 |
| 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. |
139 | $78 | $149 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
100 | $112 | $469 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm A minor procedure to shave off a skin growth on the body, arms, or legs that measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
89 | $70 | $195 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm Removal of a cancerous skin growth on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters. |
85 | $118 | $275 |
| Skin growth shaving, 0.5 cm or less This procedure involves shaving off a small skin growth measuring 0.5 centimeters or less from the body, arms, or legs. |
74 | $42 | $116 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin growth located on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
51 | $82 | $173 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
39 | $35 | $98 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves shaving off a skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters from the body, arms, or legs. |
32 | $78 | $167 |
| Light therapy to destroy precancerous skin growth This procedure uses light to treat and remove precancerous skin lesions. It is a method for destroying abnormal skin cells before they become cancerous. |
31 | $81 | $431 |
| New patient office visit, 15-29 minutes An initial office visit for a new patient lasting 15 to 29 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter meets this duration threshold. |
31 | $36 | $126 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
31 | $13 | $88 |
| Topical aminolevulinic acid HCl 20% solution A topical medication applied to the skin for medical treatment. It is supplied as a single-unit dosage form containing 354 mg of the active ingredient. |
31 | $297 | $656 |
| 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. |
24 | $69 | $149 |
| Intermediate wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A medical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, underarms, trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. This type of repair involves cleaning the wound and stitching it closed to promote healing. |
19 | $223 | $565 |
| Removal of noncancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical removal of a benign skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The growth measured between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters in diameter. |
18 | $56 | $202 |
| Punch biopsy of first skin growth A small, circular piece of skin is removed from a skin growth using a circular blade. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for examination. |
15 | $70 | $206 |
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 ↗$7,546
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,078/year across 7 years
Top 18% in GA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
33
Companies
235
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
$5,201 (68.9%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$2,147 (28.4%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$199 (2.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,129
2023
$948
2022
$2,762
2021
$593
2020
$528
2019
$919
2018
$667
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$235
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$217
PFIZER INC.
$179
ABBVIE INC.
$104
Biofrontera Inc.
$85
UCB, Inc.
$81
Amgen Inc.
$68
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$45
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$41
Almirall LLC
$24
Incyte Corporation
$24
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$13
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 55.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$2,167
PFIZER INC.
$809
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$781
Amgen Inc.
$555
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$482
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$397
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$315
AbbVie, Inc.
$199
LEO Pharma Inc.
$182
ABBVIE INC.
$170
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$149
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$129
Biofrontera Inc.
$106
Almirall LLC
$94
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
$85
Lilly USA, LLC
$85
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$82
UCB, Inc.
$81
Celgene Corporation
$77
Mayne Pharma Inc.
$76
AbbVie Inc.
$67
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$63
Merz North America, Inc.
$60
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$54
Genentech USA, Inc.
$53
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$43
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$43
Incyte Corporation
$42
GENZYME CORPORATION
$35
MAYNE PHARMA INC.
$23
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$15
DERMIRA, INC.
$15
Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 49.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
0.25% · ABSORICA · ABSORICA (isotretinoin) · ABSORICA LD · ADBRY · AKLIEF · AMELUZ · ARAZLO · Absorica LD · BLU-U · BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator Model 4170 · Bimzelx · CIBINQO · COSENTYX · Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide · DORYX · DUOBRII · DUPIXENT · DUPIXENT DUPILUMAB INJECTION · ENSTILAR · EPIDUO FORTE · EUCRISA · Enbrel · Erivedge · FINACEA · Humira · ILUMYA · Ilumya · Klisyri · NUZYRA · OPZELURA · Olux · Otezla · REMICADE · RINVOQ · SIVEXTRO · SKYRIZI · SOOLANTRA · Seysara · Skyrizi · TALTZ · TOPICORT (desoximetasone) Topical Spray · TREMFYA · Tremfya · VALCHLOR · VTAMA · Winlevi · XELJANZ
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 (69%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
61
Per 100K population
20.5
County median income
$69,575
Nearest hospital
CANDLER 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 reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. McCullough is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 15% in GA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 18% of GA peers, 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. McCullough experienced with destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. McCullough performed 1,588 destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 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. McCullough receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. McCullough received a total of $7,546 from 33 companies across 235 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. McCullough's costs compare to other opticians in Savannah?
Dr. McCullough's average Medicare payment per service is $37. 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. McCullough) 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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