Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Clarence Wheeler, M.D.
Optician · Lubbock, TX
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-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. Wheeler 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. Wheeler
Dr. Clarence Wheeler is an optician specialist in Lubbock, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Wheeler performed 3,333 Medicare services across 1,834 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Wheeler received a total of $1,429 from 18 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 42 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. Wheeler 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 20% volume in TX
$1,429 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,333
Medicare services
Top 20% in TX for optician
1,834
Unique beneficiaries
$82
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~167 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. |
994 | $0 | $0 |
| 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. |
332 | $61 | $127 |
| Dialysis services for patients 20 or older Dialysis treatment provided to patients aged 20 years or older, involving four or more physician visits per month. |
188 | $267 | $400 |
| Complete ultrasound of retroperitoneum An ultrasound examination of the structures located behind the abdominal cavity. |
170 | $78 | $300 |
| 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. |
159 | $174 | $723 |
| 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. |
135 | $90 | $125 |
| 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. |
110 | $129 | $350 |
| 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. |
90 | $84 | $450 |
| 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. |
80 | $89 | $365 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) of hip, pelvis, and spine This test measures bone density in the hip, pelvis, and spine to assess bone strength. It also includes an assessment for spine fractures. |
78 | $49 | $300 |
| Trabecular bone score calculation This procedure calculates the trabecular bone score using imaging data to assess bone microarchitecture. It includes interpretation and a report on fracture risk. |
76 | $30 | $199 |
| 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. |
62 | $97 | $396 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
61 | $77 | $263 |
| Arterial catheter insertion, first order branch Placement of a catheter into a primary branch of an artery in the chest or arm. |
60 | $82 | $850 |
| 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. |
49 | $61 | $90 |
| 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. |
45 | $116 | $390 |
| Pre-operative ultrasound for hemodialysis access A complete ultrasound assessment of artery and vein blood flow performed before surgery to evaluate hemodialysis access. |
44 | $95 | $450 |
| 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. |
40 | $8 | $35 |
| 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. |
39 | $109 | $420 |
| Sleep study with heart rate and breathing monitoring A sleep study that monitors heart rate, breathing patterns, and sleep duration. This test records physiological data while you sleep to assess your sleep quality and breathing function. |
38 | $95 | $500 |
| Ultrasound of arm arteries or grafts An ultrasound exam of the arteries in one arm or any arterial grafts present. This imaging test uses sound waves to visualize blood flow and vessel structure. |
37 | $93 | $365 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
37 | $23 | $60 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 32 | $143 | $400 |
| 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. |
31 | $323 | $1,640 |
| Sleep study with continuous airway pressure, age 6+ A sleep study conducted in a sleep lab that monitors breathing and other body functions while administering continuous airway pressure. This test is performed on patients aged 6 years or older. |
31 | $474 | $1,900 |
| Dialysis services for adults, 2-3 visits per month This code covers dialysis services for patients aged 20 or older who have 2 to 3 physician visits per month. |
30 | $218 | $351 |
| 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. |
29 | $72 | $305 |
| Remote physiological data monitoring, 30 days Collection and interpretation of physical parameters transmitted by the patient or caregiver over a 30-day period, requiring at least 30 minutes of professional time. |
29 | $41 | $103 |
| Contrast injection for X-ray imaging Administration of a contrast agent into a vein in the arm or leg to enhance visibility during an X-ray imaging procedure. |
24 | $176 | $890 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg vein image A radiologist reviews an image of a vein in one arm or leg. |
24 | $72 | $330 |
| Radiologist review of major upper body vein image A radiologist reviews images of the major veins in the upper body to assess their structure and function. |
21 | $79 | $360 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures. |
20 | $36 | $500 |
| Sleep study in sleep lab (age 6+) An overnight test conducted in a sleep laboratory to monitor sleep patterns and bodily functions in patients aged 6 years or older. |
19 | $460 | $1,800 |
| 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. |
19 | $133 | $215 |
| Ultrasound of hemodialysis access An ultrasound imaging test used to evaluate the blood flow and structure of a hemodialysis access site. |
17 | $82 | $450 |
| Hemodialysis circuit intervention with stent placement A radiologist inserts a needle or tube into the hemodialysis circuit and places a stent in the dialysis segment while reviewing the procedure. |
16 | $224 | $900 |
| Hemodialysis clot removal, balloon dilation, and stent placement This procedure involves removing or dissolving a blood clot within the hemodialysis circuit, dilating the dialysis segment with a balloon, and placing a stent, all under radiological review. |
14 | $382 | $1,500 |
| Permanent blockage of hemodialysis circuit with radiologist review A procedure to permanently close off a hemodialysis circuit, including a review by a radiologist. |
14 | $150 | $600 |
| 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. |
13 | $74 | $531 |
| Balloon dilation of vein, initial vein A procedure to widen a vein using a balloon catheter, with radiologist review. |
13 | $213 | $855 |
| 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. |
13 | $38 | $150 |
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.
3.1% high complexity
52.4% medium
44.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$1,429
Total received (2019-2024)
Avg $286/year across 5 years
Top 49% in TX for optician
18
Companies
42
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.
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$1,387 (97.1%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$41 (2.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$948
2023
$238
2022
$83
2020
$38
2019
$121
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$566
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$177
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$123
Shire North American Group Inc
$105
Medtronic, Inc.
$63
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC
$41
Fresenius USA Marketing, Inc.
$40
Amgen Inc.
$39
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$38
Novo Nordisk Inc
$38
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$34
Nevro Corp.
$30
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$29
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$27
Lilly USA, LLC
$24
Exeltis, USA Inc.
$20
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$18
Relypsa, Inc.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 60.7% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
BENLYSTA · ELLIPSYS VASCULAR ACCESS SYSTEM · EVENITY · FARXIGA · JYNARQUE · Kerendia · Ozempic · PURIFIED CORTROPHIN GEL · RAYALDEE · REYVOW · STRENSIQ · Senza · TAVNEOS · TERLIVAZ · Vafseo · Velphoro · Veltassa
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 →
Most payments (97%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $43 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Opticians within 10 mi
31
Per 100K population
9.9
County median income
$63,367
Nearest hospital
LUBBOCK HEART HOSPITAL LP
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. Wheeler is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 20% 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
Is Dr. Wheeler experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Wheeler performed 994 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. Wheeler receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Wheeler received a total of $1,429 from 18 companies across 42 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. Wheeler's costs compare to other opticians in Lubbock?
Dr. Wheeler's average Medicare payment per service is $82. 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. Wheeler) 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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