Medicare Enrolled

Dr. William Zimmerman, MD

Optician · Framingham, MA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology — Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
61 LINCOLN ST, Framingham, MA 01702
5088756124
In practice since 2006 (19 years)
NPI: 1639265614 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. Zimmerman 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. Zimmerman

Dr. William Zimmerman is an optician specialist in Framingham, MA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Zimmerman performed 4,345 Medicare services across 2,985 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Zimmerman received a total of $623 from 11 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 29 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. Zimmerman 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 13% volume in MA $623 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
4,345
Medicare services
Top 13% in MA for optician
2,985
Unique beneficiaries
$54
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~229 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 (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.
874 $74 $175
Allergy skin test with airborne allergens
A procedure where small amounts of airborne allergens are injected into the skin to check for allergic reactions.
782 $4 $18
Middle ear function test
A diagnostic test used to evaluate how well the middle ear is functioning.
350 $13 $60
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.
345 $93 $225
Ear wax removal
A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal.
309 $35 $110
Comprehensive hearing and speech recognition test
A diagnostic evaluation that assesses hearing ability and the capacity to understand spoken words. The test measures how well a patient can detect sounds and recognize speech.
298 $28 $100
Flexible laryngoscopy
A diagnostic exam of the voice box using a flexible endoscope to visualize the larynx.
285 $108 $300
Ear probe test for repeated sounds
A probe is placed in the ear to measure how the ear responds to repeated sounds. The results are interpreted and a report is provided.
246 $27 $150
Nasal endoscopy
A diagnostic procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube to examine the inside of the nasal passages.
239 $159 $450
Allergy immunotherapy preparation
A professional service involving the preparation and administration of one or more antigens.
196 $13 $28
Impacted earwax removal by physician
Removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears by a physician on the same day as audiologic testing.
139 $36 $110
Nasal and throat exam with endoscope
A procedure to visually examine the nose and throat using a thin, flexible tube with a camera. This allows for direct visualization of the internal structures of the upper airway.
85 $101 $325
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.
65 $106 $215
Hearing test using earphones and bone oscillator
A hearing assessment that measures the ability to hear different sound pitches. The test uses earphones for air conduction and a device placed against the bone for bone conduction.
55 $36 $100
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 $137 $350
Complex removal of skin debris and drainage of mastoid cavity
This procedure involves the intricate removal of accumulated skin debris and the drainage of fluid from the mastoid cavity.
17 $212 $500
Auditory brainstem response test
A test that measures how the brain responds to sound to help diagnose nervous system disorders. The results are interpreted and reported by a medical professional.
13 $74 $300
Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes
A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone.
12 $104 $200
Balance testing with recording
A procedure to evaluate balance function by recording the results during testing.
11 $95 $250
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 ↗
$623
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $89/year across 7 years
Top 44% in MA for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
11
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
$623 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$96
2023
$163
2022
$63
2021
$84
2020
$58
2019
$117
2018
$41

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$50
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$32
AERIN MEDICAL INC.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$127
Acclarent, Inc
$107
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$107
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$76
Stryker Corporation
$71
AERIN MEDICAL INC.
$35
Aerin Medical Inc.
$31
OptiNose US, Inc.
$21
ALK-Abello, Inc
$19
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$16
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 54.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCLARENT AERA EUSTACHIAN TUBE BALLOON DILATION SYSTEM · Acclarent Aera · Acclarent Navwire · DUPIXENT · ENTELLUS - XPRESS ENT DILATION SYSTEM · INSPIRE · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · NUCALA · Otiprio · RYTARY · SPIROX - LATERA · TruDi Navigation System · VIVAER STYLUS · VivAer · Xhance
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 optician specialist in Framingham?
Compare opticians in the Framingham area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse opticians nearby

Geographic Context

Opticians within 10 mi
784
Per 100K population
48.3
County median income
$126,779
Nearest hospital
METROWEST MEDICAL CENTER
2.6 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. Zimmerman is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 13% in MA), 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. Zimmerman experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Zimmerman performed 874 office visit, established patient (20-29 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. Zimmerman receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Zimmerman received a total of $623 from 11 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. Zimmerman's costs compare to other opticians in Framingham?
Dr. Zimmerman's average Medicare payment per service is $54. 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. Zimmerman) 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 →