Dr. Erwin Winkel, MD
What this data tells you about Dr. Winkel
Dr. Erwin Winkel is an optician specialist in Houston, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Winkel performed 7,091 Medicare services across 2,153 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Winkel received a total of $7,041 from 53 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 303 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. Winkel 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.
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI contrast dye injection (gadoterate) | 2,550 | $0 | $0 |
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) | 1,600 | $0 | $0 |
| Urinalysis, manual | 1,009 | $3 | $9 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) | 722 | $65 | $245 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding | 445 | $8 | $29 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) | 196 | $92 | $352 |
| Diagnostic exam of bladder and urethra using an endoscope | 134 | $187 | $647 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 102 | $130 | $507 |
| Initial hospital care with straightforward or low level of medical decision making, per day, if using time, at least 40 minutes | 56 | $65 | $249 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) | 50 | $73 | $297 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) | 45 | $107 | $453 |
| Ultrasound scan of pelvic region through rectum | 33 | $112 | $377 |
| Simple insertion of temporary bladder tube | 32 | $45 | $171 |
| Cell examination of urine, computer-assisted | 23 | $302 | $1,047 |
| Injection, garamycin, gentamicin, up to 80 mg | 23 | $2 | $6 |
| Shock wave crushing of kidney stones | 15 | $420 | $2,038 |
| Crushing of stone of ureter with insertion of stent using an endoscope | 15 | $330 | $1,100 |
| Biopsy of prostate gland | 15 | $184 | $668 |
| Ct scan of abdomen and pelvis before and after contrast | 14 | $189 | $908 |
| Mri scan of pelvis before and after contrast | 12 | $187 | $826 |
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Payments by company (2024)
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Most payments (94%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
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. Winkel is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 10% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 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. Winkel experienced with mri contrast dye injection (gadoterate)?
Does Dr. Winkel receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
How do Dr. Winkel's costs compare to other opticians in Houston?
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Explore related providers
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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