Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Anand Saranathan, M.D.

Optician · Houston, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Speaking/Promotional
7015 ALMEDA RD, Houston, TX 77054
7135206875
In practice since 2008 (18 years)
NPI: 1760652119 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. Saranathan 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. Saranathan

Dr. Anand Saranathan is an optician specialist in Houston, TX, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Saranathan performed 8,593 Medicare services across 1,179 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Saranathan received a total of $109,908 from 47 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 670 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in optician. 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. Saranathan 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.

✓ 18 years in practice ▲ Top 7% volume in TX $109,908 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
8,593
Medicare services
Top 7% in TX for optician
1,179
Unique beneficiaries
$35
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~477 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
Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)
A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures.
6,632 $0 $1
Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity
Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service.
450 $62 $292
Midazolam injection, per 1 mg
Administration of midazolam hydrochloride, a sedative medication, measured in 1 mg increments.
319 $0 $4
Injection, fentanyl citrate, 0.1 mg 179 $1 $12
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.
171 $40 $268
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.
123 $9 $57
Hemodialysis circuit intervention with balloon dilation
A procedure to insert a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit and dilate the dialysis segment using a balloon, with radiological review.
120 $980 $6,648
Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity
Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter.
99 $96 $420
Cefazolin sodium injection, 500 mg
An injection of 500 mg of cefazolin sodium, an antibiotic medication, administered into the body.
68 $1 $3
Arterial catheter insertion, first order branch
Placement of a catheter into a primary branch of an artery in the chest or arm.
51 $473 $4,991
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.
44 $52 $399
Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity
Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter.
40 $102 $554
Replacement of tunneled central venous tube
This procedure involves replacing an existing tunneled central venous catheter with a new one. The new tube is inserted through the same tunnel under the skin to maintain vascular access.
39 $350 $4,316
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.
38 $118 $801
Intravenous drug injection
A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance directly into a vein.
37 $30 $206
Balloon dilation of vein, initial vein
A procedure to widen a vein using a balloon catheter, with radiologist review.
36 $1,107 $7,523
Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device
Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device.
33 $80 $547
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.
30 $71 $533
Needle or tube insertion into hemodialysis circuit with radiologist review
A procedure involving the insertion of a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit, accompanied by a review of the procedure by a radiologist.
25 $514 $3,867
Removal of tunneled central venous tube
This procedure involves the removal of a catheter that has been surgically placed under the skin and threaded into a large vein.
18 $124 $875
Initial hospital admission, high complexity
Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter.
18 $140 $813
Hemodialysis circuit clot removal and vessel dilation
This procedure involves removing or dissolving a blood clot within the hemodialysis circuit and using a balloon to widen the dialysis access segment, with imaging review by a radiologist.
12 $1,689 $12,589
Balloon dilation of dialysis access with radiologist review
A minimally invasive procedure to widen a narrowed section of a dialysis access vessel using a balloon catheter. The procedure includes review by a radiologist to ensure proper placement and effectiveness.
11 $482 $3,242
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.
1.0% high complexity
86.2% medium
12.8% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$109,908
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $15,701/year across 7 years
Top 3% in TX for optician
47
Companies
670
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
$100,965 (91.9%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$8,942 (8.1%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$20,467
2023
$17,423
2022
$34,348
2021
$9,621
2020
$5,418
2019
$14,710
2018
$7,921

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Vifor Pharma, Inc.
$26,166
Relypsa, Inc.
$22,689
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$21,081
Amgen Inc.
$19,202
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$10,927
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$2,385
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
$2,169
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$1,168
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$476
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$429
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$406
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$348
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$187
Ardelyx, Inc.
$182
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$176
Mallinckrodt LLC
$169
Medtronic, Inc.
$160
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$128
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$114
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$113
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC
$103
Renalytix AI, Inc.
$102
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$98
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$95
Lilly USA, LLC
$84
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$83
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$76
Horizon Pharma plc
$62
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$53
Philips North America LLC
$46
Calliditas Therapeutics US Inc.
$45
Fresenius USA Marketing, Inc.
$42
Shire North American Group Inc
$38
GENZYME CORPORATION
$37
Abbott Laboratories
$37
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$32
Novo Nordisk Inc
$24
ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
$24
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$22
CALLIDITAS THERAPEUTICS US INC.
$19
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$19
CMP Pharma, Inc.
$19
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$16
Mozarc Medical US LLC
$16
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$15
PFIZER INC.
$14
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 63.6% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(7999) SRC Und · (8685) OEM Other · (8874) inCourage · (AK6) Vest Therapy · ACTHAR · ATLAS · AURYXIA · Auryxia · BENLYSTA · CHAMELEON · CLEVIPREX · COVERA · CRYSVITA · Carospir · Chameleon · Clot Management · ELLIPSYS VASCULAR ACCESS SYSTEM · ETERNA · EVUSHELD · Edarbyclor · FABRY-DISEASE · FARXIGA · FLEXITOUCH · FLUENCY · FUROSCIX · Fluency Endovascular Stent Graft · GATTEX · IBSRELA · IMPRA ePTFE Vascular Grafts · INJECTAFER · INPEN SMART INSULIN DELIVERY SYSTEM · JARDIANCE · JYNARQUE · KENGREAL · KIDNEYINTELX BLOOD COLLECTION CONVENIENCE KIT · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · Korsuva · LIFESTAR · LOKELMA · LUPKYNIS · LUTONIX · LUTONIX Drug Coated Balloon · MINIMED 770G · NATPARA (PARATHYROID HORMONE) · PREVNAR - 13 · PROCLAIM · Parsabiv · RAYALDEE · Rayaldee · Repatha · Rybelsus · TARPEYO · TAVNEOS · VENASEAL · Velphoro · Veltassa · Venclose Maven Catheter · Venovo
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 (92%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in optician and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 3% for optician in TX.

Equivalent to $1,279 per 100 Medicare services performed
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Geographic Context

Opticians within 10 mi
505
Per 100K population
10.6
County median income
$73,104
Nearest hospital
WOMANS HOSPITAL OF TEXAS,THE
0.0 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. Saranathan is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 7% in TX), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 3% of TX peers, with 18 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. Saranathan experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Saranathan performed 6,632 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Saranathan receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Saranathan received a total of $109,908 from 47 companies across 670 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. Saranathan's costs compare to other opticians in Houston?
Dr. Saranathan's average Medicare payment per service is $35. 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. Saranathan) 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. 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.

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 →