Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Joseph Furlong, MD
Optician · El Paso, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Low-engagement
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. Furlong 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. Furlong
Dr. Joseph Furlong is an optician specialist in El Paso, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Furlong performed 8,993 Medicare services across 5,313 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Furlong received a total of $8,689 from 22 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 315 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. Furlong is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 7% volume in TX
$8,689 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,993
Medicare services
Top 7% in TX for optician
5,313
Unique beneficiaries
$269
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~450 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
2,059 | $84 | $450 |
| Additional blood vessel ultrasound evaluation An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review. This code applies to each additional vessel evaluated beyond the initial one. |
970 | $129 | $500 |
| Ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. It allows for the visualization of these blood vessels and any surgical grafts. |
818 | $72 | $170 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
461 | $176 | $830 |
| Insertion of tube into second-order vein branch A procedure involving the placement of a tube into a secondary branch of a vein. |
452 | $438 | $1,700 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
448 | $114 | $687 |
| Limited retroperitoneal ultrasound A focused ultrasound exam of the area behind the abdominal cavity to evaluate specific structures. |
373 | $45 | $300 |
| Chemical destruction of first incompetent vein with imaging guidance This procedure uses imaging guidance to chemically destroy the first incompetent vein in the arm or leg. |
357 | $1,338 | $3,500 |
| Ultrasound-guided injection into a single leg vein A chemical agent is injected into one incompetent vein in the leg while using ultrasound to guide the needle placement. |
340 | $1,088 | $2,500 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries A non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to examine the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It evaluates blood flow and checks for blockages or other vascular issues. |
322 | $91 | $486 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
303 | $30 | $50 |
| Chemical injection for multiple incompetent leg veins A procedure involving the injection of a chemical agent into several non-functioning veins in the leg. |
289 | $183 | $481 |
| Ultrasound of blood vessel, initial vessel An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review of the initial vessel. |
287 | $706 | $2,600 |
| Radiologist review of lower body vein image A radiologist reviews images of the major veins in the lower body to assess their structure and function. |
274 | $80 | $400 |
| Review by radiologist of both arms and legs veins of both arms or legs image | 190 | $99 | $275 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
189 | $37 | $100 |
| Laser vein destruction with imaging guidance This procedure uses laser energy to destroy a faulty vein in the arm or leg. Imaging guidance is used to ensure accurate placement during the treatment. |
125 | $797 | $3,800 |
| Injection of chemical agent into single incompetent vein | 106 | $69 | $225 |
| Additional sedation, per 15 minutes Administration of a drug to deepen sedation during a procedure. This code covers each additional 15-minute increment of sedation beyond the initial period. |
99 | $8 | $25 |
| Vein stent insertion with radiologist review A stent is placed in a vein to keep it open, with review by a radiologist. This is performed on the initial vein treated. |
97 | $2,574 | $8,000 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg vein image A radiologist reviews an image of a vein in one arm or leg. |
85 | $83 | $225 |
| Radiofrequency vein destruction, first vein A procedure to treat the first incompetent vein in the arm or leg using radiofrequency energy and imaging guidance. |
71 | $880 | $4,500 |
| Ultrasound-guided injection into multiple incompetent leg veins A procedure where a chemical agent is injected into several faulty veins in the same leg. Ultrasound guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
70 | $1,054 | $2,600 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
47 | $56 | $126 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to create images of the arteries in one leg or any grafts present in that leg. |
34 | $84 | $430 |
| 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. |
28 | $69 | $175 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
23 | $116 | $495 |
| 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. |
21 | $94 | $200 |
| Other procedure on blood vessel A medical intervention performed on a blood vessel that does not fall under other specific categories. |
15 | $113 | $1,145 |
| 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. |
15 | $86 | $250 |
| Laser vein destruction, subsequent Laser treatment to destroy incompetent veins in the arm or leg, performed during a subsequent session. The procedure uses imaging guidance to target the affected veins. |
13 | $238 | $1,100 |
| Arterial tube insertion, first branch A procedure to insert a tube into the first branch of an artery in the abdomen, pelvis, or leg. |
12 | $970 | $2,000 |
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.
10.2% high complexity
73.3% medium
16.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$8,689
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,241/year across 7 years
Top 19% in TX for optician
22
Companies
315
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
$8,689 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,987
2023
$2,214
2022
$1,060
2021
$1,062
2020
$717
2019
$945
2018
$704
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$1,290
Medtronic, Inc.
$1,284
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$1,022
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$793
Boston Scientific Corporation
$598
Nevro Corp.
$550
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$535
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$483
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$430
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$380
Philips North America LLC
$236
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$204
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$188
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$153
PFIZER INC.
$127
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$115
Abbott Laboratories
$100
Biocompatibles, Inc.
$71
Ra Medical Systems, Inc.
$53
CORDIS US CORP.
$28
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$26
Terumo Medical Corporation
$22
Top 3 companies account for 41.4% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(4066) Tack Endo Sys ATK · (4067) Tack Endo Sys BTK · (4067) Tack Endovascular Systems BTK · (5027) Intact Vascular Und · (5139) IGT Fixed SV TnM · (6536) Phoenix · (6554) Periph Vasc Undiv · (6554) Peripheral Vascular Undivided · (6577) Visions 014 · (6582) Visions 035 · (888) PV 018 OTW · (9260) QC · (9281) Turbo Elite · (9282) Turbo Power · (9520) IGT Devices Und · (BR5) Peripheral IVUS · ABRE · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · Abre · CARDIVA VASCADE 6/7F VCS · CLOSUREFAST · CONCERTOTM · CROSSER · ClosureFast · DABRA · DIAMONDBACK PERIPHERAL · Diamondback Coronary · Diamondback Peripheral · ELIQUIS · ELUVIA · FLEXITOUCH · Flexitouch Plus · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GENERAL ULTRASOUND · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GENERAL - VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GENERAL ULTRASOUND · General - Ultrasound · General - Vascular Intervention · IGT D Peripheral · IMAGER II · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · LIFESTENT · LUMINEXX · LUTONIX · Mynx Venous VCD · NAVICROSS · Nalu Neurostimulation System · OptiCross 35 · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Senza · Stellarex · Ultraverse 014 · VARITHENA · VENASEAL · VENOVO · Varithena Administration Pack · VenaSeal · Venclose Maven Catheter · Venovo · XARELTO
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.
Equivalent to $97 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
66
Per 100K population
7.6
County median income
$58,859
Nearest hospital
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER OF EL PASO
4.3 mi
4.3 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 measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Furlong is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 7% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 19% of TX peers, with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data. It describes data availability and patterns — not clinical quality. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Furlong experienced with ultrasound of arm or leg veins?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Furlong performed 2,059 ultrasound of arm or leg veins 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. Furlong receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Furlong received a total of $8,689 from 22 companies across 315 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. Furlong's costs compare to other opticians in El Paso?
Dr. Furlong's average Medicare payment per service is $269. 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. Furlong) 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. The Transparency Score measures 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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