Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Rahul Patel, M.D.
Optician · Albany, NY
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Consulting-driven
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. Patel 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. Patel
Dr. Rahul Patel is an optician specialist in Albany, NY, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Patel performed 2,751 Medicare services across 2,313 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Patel received a total of $8,541 from 28 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 165 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in optician. The majority of payments are for consulting, which typically reflects recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Patel 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 28% volume in NY
$8,541 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,751
Medicare services
Top 28% in NY for optician
2,313
Unique beneficiaries
$55
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~145 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microfluid analysis of tears A laboratory test that analyzes tear fluid using microfluidic technology to measure specific biomarkers. This procedure helps evaluate the composition of tears for diagnostic purposes. |
412 | $22 | $42 |
| Eye drainage system examination An examination of the internal drainage system of the eye to assess how fluid flows and drains from the eye. |
270 | $20 | $60 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
262 | $78 | $210 |
| 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. |
258 | $41 | $132 |
| Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan) Imaging of the optic nerve. |
252 | $24 | $75 |
| 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. |
208 | $82 | $197 |
| 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. |
162 | $63 | $160 |
| 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. |
134 | $57 | $140 |
| Multiple eye pressure measurements over time This procedure involves taking several measurements of the fluid pressure inside the eye across an extended period. It is used to monitor intraocular pressure levels. |
101 | $57 | $125 |
| Ultrasound scan to determine eye length and lens power An ultrasound procedure used to measure the length of the eye and calculate the power of the lens. |
94 | $32 | $124 |
| 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. |
82 | $25 | $117 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
76 | $29 | $75 |
| Tear duct plug insertion A procedure to insert a small plug into the tear duct opening to help retain tears on the eye surface. |
73 | $111 | $282 |
| 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. |
71 | $385 | $1,200 |
| Eye deviation and range of motion exam An examination to measure eye deviation and assess the range of motion of the eyes. |
50 | $45 | $100 |
| Extended eye exam with retinal drawing A detailed examination of the back of the eye that includes creating a drawing of the retina. |
47 | $18 | $60 |
| Imaging of front third of eye Imaging of the front third of the eye. |
34 | $20 | $65 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, new patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient. |
32 | $94 | $220 |
| Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea. |
29 | $8 | $25 |
| Laser removal of recurring cataract A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule. |
25 | $221 | $600 |
| 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. |
23 | $47 | $226 |
| CT scan of cornea A computed tomography scan used to create detailed images of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. |
18 | $24 | $80 |
| 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. |
15 | $119 | $260 |
| Extended color vision testing A comprehensive eye exam that includes specialized tests to evaluate color vision. |
12 | $41 | $80 |
| Extended exam of back of eye with optic nerve drawing A detailed examination of the posterior section of the eye, including the optic nerve, with documentation through drawing. |
11 | $12 | $60 |
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.
2.6% high complexity
19.1% medium
78.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$8,541
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,220/year across 7 years
Top 17% in NY for optician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
28
Companies
165
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.
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$5,156 (60.4%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$3,385 (39.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$693
2023
$434
2022
$872
2021
$5,692
2020
$256
2019
$312
2018
$283
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$246
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$97
Alcon Vision LLC
$96
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$62
Dompe US, Inc.
$49
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$44
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$26
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$25
Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited
$24
Thea Pharma Inc.
$24
Top 3 companies account for 63.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Inari Medical, Inc.
$5,156
Alcon Vision LLC
$410
ABBVIE INC.
$358
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$310
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$292
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$249
Dompe US, Inc.
$178
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.
$177
Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
$156
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$154
Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$147
Allergan, Inc.
$137
Ocular Therapeutix, Inc.
$100
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$97
TissueTech, Inc.
$91
Allergan Inc.
$80
Shire North American Group Inc
$74
Omeros Corporation
$71
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$67
Thea Pharma Inc.
$47
Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited
$41
BioTissue Holdings, Inc.
$33
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS, INC.
$19
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$19
EYEVANCE PHARMACEUTICALS LLC
$16
Eyevance Pharmaceuticals LLC
$16
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 69.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · ARGOS · AcrySof IQ PanOptix · Avenova · BESIVANCE · CEQUA · CT THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM KIT · Cequa · Clareon · DEXTENZA · DEXYCU · DURYSTA · Flarex · INVELTYS · IYUZEH · LIPIFLOW SYSTEM ACTIVATOR II (DISPOSABLE · LOTEMAX SM · LUMIGAN · MIEBO · OXERVATE · Omidria · Oxervate · PROKERA · PROLENSA · Prokera · RESTASIS · RESTASIS MULTIDOSE · ReSure Sealant · Rocklatan · Simbrinza · TRAVATAN Z · TYRVAYA · Tecnis IOL · VUITY · VYZULTA · XDEMVY · XELPROS · XELPROS (latanoprost ophthalmic emulsion) 0.005% · XIIDRA · enVista MX60 IOL
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 (60%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers.
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
602
Per 100K population
190.9
County median income
$83,149
Nearest hospital
ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL
4.7 mi
4.7 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. Patel is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 28% in NY), with consulting-driven industry engagement in the top 17% of NY 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. Patel experienced with microfluid analysis of tears?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Patel performed 412 microfluid analysis of tears 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. Patel receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Patel received a total of $8,541 from 28 companies across 165 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. Patel's costs compare to other opticians in Albany?
Dr. Patel's average Medicare payment per service is $55. 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. Patel) 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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