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 A limited examination of the visual system for an existing patient. The provider focuses on a specific eye-related concern or symptom. |
1,681 | $65 | $95 |
| Retinal imaging (OCT scan) This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye. |
1,163 | $29 | $90 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, established patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider. |
1,078 | $90 | $160 |
| 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. |
1,065 | $27 | $180 |
| Ultrasound scan of cornea to determine thickness An ultrasound procedure used to measure the thickness of the cornea. |
882 | $8 | $80 |
| Aflibercept eye injection (Eylea) | 778 | $692 | $1,500 |
| 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. |
704 | $45 | $150 |
| 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. |
496 | $22 | $35 |
| Corneal topography and eye depth measurement This procedure measures the curvature and depth of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. |
422 | $18 | $180 |
| Eye injection for retinal disease A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye. |
387 | $99 | $356 |
| Imaging of front third of eye Imaging of the front third of the eye. |
387 | $21 | $90 |
| Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan) Imaging of the optic nerve. |
369 | $26 | $90 |
| 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. |
216 | $424 | $3,600 |
| Comprehensive eye exam, new patient A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient. |
156 | $87 | $180 |
| Laser removal of recurring cataract A laser procedure to remove a recurring cataract within the lens capsule. |
65 | $265 | $1,200 |
| Visual field test, intermediate A test that measures your side vision to check for blind spots or other vision changes. |
46 | $36 | $150 |
| Eye photography Photographic imaging of the interior structures of the eye. |
43 | $16 | $100 |
| Unclassified biologic A biologic product that does not have a specific HCPCS code assigned. |
43 | $2,108 | $4,000 |
| Laser repair to improve eye fluid flow A laser procedure used to enhance the drainage of fluid within the eye. |
37 | $190 | $1,200 |
| CT scan of cornea A computed tomography scan used to create detailed images of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. |
29 | $28 | $225 |
| Laser eye fluid drainage tract creation A laser procedure used to create drainage tracts in the iris to help fluid flow out of the eye. |
27 | $241 | $1,400 |
| Complex cataract removal with lens implant A surgical procedure to remove a cataract from the eye and insert an artificial lens to restore vision. |
23 | $588 | $3,600 |
| 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 | $85 | $200 |
| Eyelash removal with forceps This procedure involves the manual removal of eyelashes using forceps. It is a mechanical extraction method performed on the eyelid area. |
17 | $15 | $212 |
| Removal of excessive skin and fat of upper eyelid | 15 | $633 | $3,000 |
| 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. |
12 | $135 | $190 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 12 | $139 | $255 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
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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