Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Richard Zak, MD

Ophthalmology · Aurora, IL
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
1300 N HIGHLAND AVE, Aurora, IL 60506
6308975104
In practice since 2006 (20 years)
NPI: 1467422451 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Zak 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. Zak

Dr. Richard Zak is an ophthalmology specialist in Aurora, IL, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Zak performed 6,535 Medicare services across 783 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Zak received a total of $932 from 16 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 29 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. 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. Zak 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.

✓ 20 years in practice ▲ Top 13% volume in IL $932 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
6,535
Medicare services
Top 13% in IL for ophthalmology
783
Unique beneficiaries
$81
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~327 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
Eye injection (Vabysmo/faricimab)
An injection of faricimab-svoa, a medication administered in 0.1 mg doses.
4,500 $29 $100
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
452 $31 $200
Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) 418 $687 $1,500
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider.
397 $95 $195
Eye injection for retinal disease
A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye.
344 $95 $394
Eye exam, established patient, focused
A limited examination of the visual system for an existing patient. The provider focuses on a specific eye-related concern or symptom.
277 $69 $130
Conjunctiva injection
A procedure involving the injection of medication into the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye.
53 $32 $76
Steroid injection (triamcinolone)
A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered.
52 $1 $3
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient.
24 $106 $265
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.
18 $28 $145
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 ↗
$932
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $155/year across 6 years
Bottom 43% in IL for ophthalmology
16
Companies
29
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
$932 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$481
2023
$104
2022
$83
2021
$183
2019
$65
2018
$16

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$268
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$108
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
Genentech USA, Inc.
$29
ABBVIE INC.
$26
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
Top 3 companies account for 84.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$331
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$132
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$110
Genentech USA, Inc.
$110
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
OPTOS, INC.
$31
ABBVIE INC.
$26
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$23
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$22
Alcon Vision LLC
$20
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
Akorn, Inc.
$16
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$16
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$15
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 61.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AcrySof IQ VIVITY IOL · BEOVU · Cequa · EYLEA · EYLEA HD · HETLIOZ · ILUVIEN · MIEBO · OZURDEX · P200DTx · PROLENSA · Rhopressa · Syfovre · VABYSMO · Vabysmo · XDEMVY · XIIDRA · XIPERE · YUTIQ · Zioptan
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 (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.

Looking for an ophthalmology specialist in Aurora?
Compare ophthalmologists in the Aurora area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse ophthalmologists nearby

Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
145
Per 100K population
28.1
County median income
$100,678
Nearest hospital
PRESENCE MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
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. Zak is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 13% in IL), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Zak experienced with eye injection (vabysmo/faricimab)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Zak performed 4,500 eye injection (vabysmo/faricimab) 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. Zak receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Zak received a total of $932 from 16 companies across 29 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. Zak's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Aurora?
Dr. Zak's average Medicare payment per service is $81. 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. Zak) 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 →
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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →