Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sheikh Ahmed, M.D.
Optician · Houston, TX
Practice pattern: Cardiac & Electrophysiology
— Practice combining cardiac and electrophysiology services
Mixed 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. Ahmed 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 →
Are you Dr. Ahmed?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Ahmed
Dr. Sheikh Ahmed is an optician specialist in Houston, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Ahmed performed 1,706 Medicare services across 1,105 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Ahmed received a total of $17,142 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 117 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in optician. Payments are distributed across multiple categories and often reflect legitimate professional engagement with the medical industry. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Ahmed 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 37% volume in TX
$17,142 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,706
Medicare services
Top 37% in TX for optician
1,105
Unique beneficiaries
$88
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~90 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
407 | $62 | $131 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
309 | $10 | $40 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
160 | $43 | $77 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
95 | $142 | $249 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
78 | $142 | $251 |
| Expiratory airflow and volume test A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed at which you can breathe it out. It evaluates lung function by assessing expiratory airflow and volume. |
66 | $20 | $101 |
| 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. |
48 | $152 | $252 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
41 | $51 | $148 |
| Awake and drowsy EEG A test that records electrical activity in the brain while the patient is awake and drowsy. |
41 | $310 | $594 |
| Visual evoked potential test A test that measures how quickly electrical signals travel from the eye to the brain in response to visual stimuli. |
41 | $54 | $183 |
| Digital analysis of brain wave activity (EEG) This procedure involves the digital analysis of brain wave activity recorded via an electroencephalogram (EEG). It focuses on the technical interpretation of the digital data rather than the initial recording or supervision. |
41 | $223 | $466 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
40 | $352 | $604 |
| Neuropsychological test evaluation, first hour A professional assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning using standardized tests. This service covers the initial hour of the evaluation process. |
40 | $103 | $190 |
| Psychological test administration, first 30 minutes A technician administers psychological or neuropsychological testing for the first 30 minutes. |
39 | $27 | $101 |
| 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. |
36 | $87 | $250 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
35 | $286 | $751 |
| 2-day continuous ECG with review and report A two-day continuous electrocardiogram recording that includes a professional review and written report of the results. |
23 | $47 | $254 |
| Complete ultrasound of brain blood flow An ultrasound test that evaluates blood flow within the brain's blood vessels. It uses sound waves to create images of the vessels and assess circulation. |
20 | $177 | $432 |
| Ultrasound of brain blood flow following medication An ultrasound test used to assess blood flow within the brain after a medication has been administered. |
20 | $183 | $488 |
| Ultrasound of brain blood flow An ultrasound test used to examine blood flow within the brain to check for blood clots. |
20 | $135 | $548 |
| Balance testing with recording A procedure to evaluate balance function by recording the results during testing. |
15 | $90 | $237 |
| Vestibular function test using rotating chair This test evaluates eye movement and balance function by having the patient sit in a rotating chair. It helps assess how the inner ear and brain coordinate to maintain stability. |
15 | $105 | $240 |
| Use of electrodes during balance testing Application of electrodes to monitor physiological responses during a balance assessment. |
15 | $9 | $20 |
| Physical therapy exercise, per 15 min A therapy session using exercises to improve strength, endurance, range of motion, and flexibility. Each 15-minute unit is billed separately. |
15 | $23 | $37 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
12 | $16 | $150 |
| 30-day continuous ECG with patient-triggered event transmission and review This procedure involves continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days, including the transmission of patient-triggered events. A healthcare professional reviews the data and provides a report. |
12 | $623 | $1,075 |
| Autonomic nervous system testing with heart rate response to deep breathing This test evaluates the function of the autonomic nervous system by measuring how the heart rate changes in response to deep breathing. |
11 | $72 | $200 |
| Autonomic nervous system function test This test evaluates how well the sympathetic nervous system is functioning. It assesses the automatic control of bodily processes such as heart rate and blood pressure. |
11 | $100 | $282 |
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.
5.6% high complexity
34.0% medium
60.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$17,142
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,449/year across 7 years
Top 11% in TX for optician
27
Companies
117
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.
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$9,827 (57.3%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$7,315 (42.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$441
2023
$792
2022
$721
2021
$10,812
2020
$208
2019
$360
2018
$3,809
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$12,248
Abbott Laboratories
$3,219
Amgen Inc.
$224
Lilly USA, LLC
$185
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$154
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$133
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$133
BIOTRONIK INC.
$123
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$120
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$89
Radius Health, Inc.
$75
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$52
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$51
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$49
Boston Scientific Corporation
$46
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$43
PFIZER INC.
$28
Optinose US, Inc.
$27
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$20
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$18
AGEPHA Pharma FZ LLC
$16
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$15
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$15
AbbVie Inc.
$15
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$13
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 91.5% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCENT · ASSURITY · Allure CRT Pacemaker · Assurity Pacemaker · BELSOMRA · CAMZYOS · CONFIRM RX · Confirm Rx · Connectivity and Remote care · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · Edarbi · FARXIGA · FUROSCIX · GALLANT · GEMTESA · General - Pain Management · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · KENGREAL · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LODOCO · MOUNJARO · Merlin Connectivity and Remote · NEXLETOL · Otezla · PRO-Kinetic Energy · QUADRA ASSURA · Quadra Allure MP RF CRT Pacemkr · Quadra Assura CRT Defibrillator · Quartet CRT Lead · Repatha · SPIRIVA RESPIMAT · STEGLATRO · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · Tymlos · UBRELVY · VERQUVO · VenaCure EVLT · XARELTO · Xhance
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 →
Payments are distributed across multiple categories with no single dominant type.
Equivalent to $1,005 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
532
Per 100K population
11.2
County median income
$73,104
Nearest hospital
MEMORIAL HERMANN HOSPITAL SYSTEM
0.0 mi
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. Ahmed is a cardiac & electrophysiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 11% of TX peers, 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. Ahmed experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Ahmed performed 407 office visit, established patient (20-29 min) 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. Ahmed receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Ahmed received a total of $17,142 from 27 companies across 117 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. Ahmed's costs compare to other opticians in Houston?
Dr. Ahmed's average Medicare payment per service is $88. 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. Ahmed) 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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