Dr. Joel Cohen, M.D.
What this data tells you about Dr. Cohen
Dr. Joel Cohen is an ophthalmology specialist in Houston, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cohen performed 10,186 Medicare services across 6,301 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cohen received a total of $4,777 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 218 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. 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. Cohen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye exam, established patient, focused | 1,681 | $65 | $95 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) | 1,163 | $29 | $90 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient | 1,078 | $90 | $160 |
| Retinal photography (fundus photo) | 1,065 | $27 | $180 |
| Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness | 882 | $8 | $80 |
| Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) | 778 | $692 | $1,500 |
| Visual field test, extended | 704 | $45 | $150 |
| Microfluid analysis of tears | 496 | $22 | $35 |
| Corneal topography and eye depth measurement | 422 | $18 | $180 |
| Eye injection for retinal disease | 387 | $99 | $356 |
| Imaging of front third of eye | 387 | $21 | $90 |
| Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan) | 369 | $26 | $90 |
| Cataract surgery with lens implant | 216 | $424 | $3,600 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, new patient | 156 | $87 | $180 |
| Removal of recurring cataract in lens capsule using a laser | 65 | $265 | $1,200 |
| Exam of visual field with intermediate testing | 46 | $36 | $150 |
| Photography of content of eyes | 43 | $16 | $100 |
| Unclassified biologics | 43 | $2,108 | $4,000 |
| Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow | 37 | $190 | $1,200 |
| Ct scan of cornea | 29 | $28 | $225 |
| Creation of eye fluid drainage tracts in iris using a laser, per session | 27 | $241 | $1,400 |
| Complex removal of cataract with insertion of prosthetic lens | 23 | $588 | $3,600 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) | 21 | $85 | $200 |
| Removal of eyelashes using forceps | 17 | $15 | $212 |
| Removal of excessive skin and fat of upper eyelid | 15 | $633 | $3,000 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) | 12 | $135 | $190 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 12 | $139 | $255 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) | 12 | $128 | $300 |
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 (92%) 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. Cohen is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 10% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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
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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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