Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Steven Nielsen, MD

Ophthalmology · Quincy, MA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
300 CONGRESS ST, Quincy, MA 02169
6174715665
In practice since 2005 (20 years)
NPI: 1477554251 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. Nielsen 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. Nielsen

Dr. Steven Nielsen is an ophthalmology specialist in Quincy, MA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Nielsen performed 2,852 Medicare services across 2,423 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Nielsen received a total of $2,238 from 22 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 72 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. Nielsen 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 32% volume in MA $2,238 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
2,852
Medicare services
Top 32% in MA for ophthalmology
2,423
Unique beneficiaries
$119
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~143 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
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider.
716 $93 $250
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.
659 $67 $175
Cataract surgery with lens implant
Surgical removal of the clouded natural lens of the eye and replacement with an artificial prosthetic lens to restore vision.
314 $420 $1,569
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.
235 $25 $344
Corneal topography and eye depth measurement
This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye.
171 $36 $392
Laser removal of recurring cataract
A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule.
166 $276 $666
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient.
163 $104 $250
Visual field test, extended
A test that maps your complete field of vision to detect blind spots or peripheral vision loss. Extended testing provides a more detailed assessment than a standard visual field exam.
137 $48 $135
Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan)
Imaging of the optic nerve.
134 $25 $193
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
53 $31 $196
Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow
A laser procedure used to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye.
37 $205 $1,052
Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness
An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea.
36 $9 $31
Retinal and optic nerve function test
A diagnostic test that measures how well the retina and optic nerve are functioning.
19 $115 $622
New patient eye exam, problem focused
A focused examination of the visual system performed during a new patient visit.
12 $63 $175
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.
11.0% high complexity
7.8% medium
81.2% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$2,238
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $320/year across 7 years
Top 30% in MA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
22
Companies
72
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
$2,238 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$788
2023
$512
2022
$296
2021
$143
2020
$52
2019
$209
2018
$237

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Harrow Eye, LLC
$401
Glaukos Corporation
$140
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$114
ABBVIE INC.
$29
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$29
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$23
Alcon Vision LLC
$19
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$17
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 83.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Harrow Eye, LLC
$401
Glaukos Corporation
$370
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$207
ABBVIE INC.
$197
Alcon Vision LLC
$172
Shire North American Group Inc
$146
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$126
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$111
Alcon Laboratories Inc
$90
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$57
Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited
$56
RxSight Inc
$49
Sight Sciences, Inc.
$39
Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$36
Allergan, Inc.
$35
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$30
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$25
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$23
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$23
Allergan Inc.
$16
Eyevance Pharmaceuticals LLC
$15
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 43.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AcrySof · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · AcrySof UltraSert · CE-marked KXLA system · Centurion · Cequa · DEXTENZA · DURYSTA · EYLEA · Flarex · IHEEZO · INVELTYS · KXL System · KXL system (not refurbished) · LOTEMAX GEL · LUMIGAN · LenSx · OMNI SURGICAL SYSTEM · OMNI(R) SURGICAL SYSTEM (US) · Omidria · Photrexa · RESTASIS MULTIDOSE · RXSIGHT CONTACT LENS · Rhopressa · Rocklatan · TYRVAYA · Tecnis IOL · Tecnis Symfony IOL · VUITY · VYZULTA · Wavelight Refractive Suite · XELPROS · XIIDRA
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 Quincy?
Compare ophthalmologists in the Quincy area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse ophthalmologists nearby

Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
510
Per 100K population
70.4
County median income
$126,497
Nearest hospital
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL - MILTON
3.4 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. Nielsen is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, 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. Nielsen experienced with comprehensive eye exam, established patient?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Nielsen performed 716 comprehensive eye exam, established patient 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. Nielsen receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Nielsen received a total of $2,238 from 22 companies across 72 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. Nielsen's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Quincy?
Dr. Nielsen's average Medicare payment per service is $119. 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. Nielsen) 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 →