Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Charles Foster, M.D.
Ophthalmology · Waltham, MA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Speaking/Promotional
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. Foster 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. Foster
Dr. Charles Foster is an ophthalmology specialist in Waltham, MA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Foster performed 5,852 Medicare services across 1,893 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Foster received a total of $21,492 from 35 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 266 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Foster 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 MA
$21,492 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,852
Medicare services
Top 13% in MA for ophthalmology
1,893
Unique beneficiaries
$40
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~293 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 (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. |
510 | $105 | $300 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
478 | $26 | $100 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
369 | $5 | $15 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
369 | $8 | $25 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
368 | $4 | $12 |
| Liver enzyme (SGOT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme SGOT to help assess liver health. |
367 | $5 | $15 |
| Liver enzyme (SGPT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme SGPT to assess liver function. |
367 | $5 | $15 |
| Blood glucose level test A test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood. |
365 | $4 | $12 |
| Glutamyltransferase (GGT) level test A blood test that measures the level of the liver enzyme glutamyltransferase (GGT) to help evaluate liver health. |
356 | $7 | $20 |
| Additional antibody stain test An additional laboratory test using a single antibody stain to evaluate specific markers. |
337 | $111 | $240 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
252 | $103 | $320 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
233 | $8 | $25 |
| Tissue staining for diagnosis, additional An extra laboratory procedure to apply special stains to tissue slides for detailed examination. |
191 | $81 | $240 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
173 | $122 | $503 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
151 | $34 | $130 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
140 | $4 | $10 |
| Normal saline infusion, 500 ml Administration of sterile normal saline solution through an intravenous line. This procedure involves the infusion of a 500 ml unit of the solution. |
108 | $1 | $6 |
| 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. |
92 | $53 | $150 |
| Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan) Imaging of the optic nerve. |
87 | $30 | $130 |
| Pathology tissue examination, moderate complexity A laboratory test where a pathologist examines tissue samples under a microscope to identify abnormalities. This specific level indicates a moderate degree of complexity in the analysis. |
81 | $39 | $150 |
| 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. |
81 | $34 | $151 |
| Eyelash removal with forceps This procedure involves the manual removal of eyelashes using forceps. It is a mechanical extraction method performed on the eyelid area. |
68 | $17 | $121 |
| Retinal angiography with dye injection This procedure uses a special camera to examine the blood vessels in the retina after a dye has been injected into the body. |
62 | $126 | $500 |
| Initial single antibody stain evaluation A laboratory test that uses a single antibody stain to evaluate specific proteins or markers in a sample. |
47 | $143 | $240 |
| Eye photography Photographic imaging of the interior structures of the eye. |
43 | $22 | $113 |
| 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. |
42 | $74 | $300 |
| Ultrasound of eye tissue and structures A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the eye's internal tissues and structures. |
30 | $39 | $250 |
| Retinal and optic nerve function test A diagnostic test that measures how well the retina and optic nerve are functioning. |
26 | $107 | $350 |
| Tissue staining for diagnosis, initial A laboratory test where special stains are applied to tissue slides to help examine the cells and identify specific characteristics. |
25 | $92 | $256 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 17 | $167 | $500 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
17 | $158 | $400 |
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.
4.8% high complexity
16.2% medium
79.0% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$21,492
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $3,070/year across 7 years
Top 8% in MA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
35
Companies
266
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$13,203 (61.4%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$6,656 (31.0%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,634 (7.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$6,255
2023
$2,005
2022
$1,460
2021
$2,443
2020
$3,102
2019
$1,014
2018
$5,215
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$6,000
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$170
ABBVIE INC.
$85
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$6,070
AbbVie, Inc.
$5,069
Dompe US, Inc.
$2,490
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$1,916
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$1,904
ABBVIE INC.
$700
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$485
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$354
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$288
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$285
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$257
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$250
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$225
AbbVie Inc.
$111
Eyevance Pharmaceuticals LLC
$105
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$98
Genentech USA, Inc.
$95
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$89
Mallinckrodt LLC
$80
Shire North American Group Inc
$72
Alcon Vision LLC
$71
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$64
Vyera Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$61
Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$60
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$56
Allergan, Inc.
$54
Coherus Biosciences Inc.
$29
VYERA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$22
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited
$20
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$20
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
Allergan Inc.
$19
TissueTech, Inc.
$18
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 63.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · Actemra · Avenova · BEOVU · BROMSITE · BromSite · BromSite (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.075% · CEQUA · COMBIGAN · Cequa · Cimerli · Clareon · DEXTENZA · DEXYCU · DUREZOL · DURYSTA · Daraprim · Daraprim 30 Tablet in 1 Bottle · Daraprim Tablet 25mg · EYLEA AFLIBERCEPT INJECTION · Flarex · HUMIRA · Hetlioz · Humira · ILUVIEN · Iluvien · KRYSTEXXA · LOTEMAX GEL · LOTEMAX SM · LUMIGAN · MIEBO · OXERVATE · OZURDEX · Omidria · Oxervate · PROLENSA · PURIFIED CORTROPHIN GEL · Prokera · RESTASIS MULTIDOSE · RETISERT · Rhopressa · Simbrinza · Syfovre · TEPEZZA · TRAVATAN Z · TYRVAYA · Tobradex ST · VISUDYNE · VUITY · VYZULTA · Vabysmo · XELPROS · XIIDRA · XIPERE · YUTIQ · Zerviate · rocklatan
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 →
The majority of payments (61%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in ophthalmology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for ophthalmology in MA.
Geographic Context
Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
534
Per 100K population
32.9
County median income
$126,779
Nearest hospital
MCLEAN HOSPITAL CORPORATION
3.7 mi
3.7 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. Foster is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 13% in MA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 8% of MA peers, 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. Foster experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Foster performed 510 office visit, established patient (30-39 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. Foster receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Foster received a total of $21,492 from 35 companies across 266 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. Foster's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Waltham?
Dr. Foster's average Medicare payment per service is $40. 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. Foster) 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.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology