Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Steven Nelson, O.D.

Optometrist · Portland, TX
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
2000 US HWY 181, Portland, TX 78374
3617773400
In practice since 2007 (19 years)
NPI: 1861527046 verify on NPPES ↗
High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 3 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. Nelson 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. Nelson

Dr. Steven Nelson is an optometrist in Portland, TX, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Nelson performed 4,154 Medicare services across 3,308 unique beneficiaries.

The Data Coverage level for Dr. Nelson is 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 0% volume in TX

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
4,154
Medicare services
Top 0% in TX for optometrist
3,308
Unique beneficiaries
$72
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~219 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
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.
 1,166 $59 $90
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.
 793 $27 $46
Eye drainage system examination
An examination of the internal drainage system of the eye to assess how fluid flows and drains from the eye.
 681 $19 $35
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider.
 587 $90 $122
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a new patient.
 402 $107 $150
Dilation of tear drainage opening
A procedure to widen the opening of the tear drainage system to improve the flow of tears from the eye.
 246 $100 $190
Retinal and optic nerve function test
A diagnostic test that measures how well the retina and optic nerve are functioning.
 130 $88 $145
Amniotic membrane placement on eye surface
This procedure involves placing amniotic membrane on the surface of the eye to promote wound healing.
 64 $931 $1,352
Corneal foreign body removal using slit lamp
A procedure to remove a foreign object from the surface of the eye's cornea. The removal is performed using a slit lamp microscope to visualize and extract the object.
 46 $47 $72
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.
 23 $12 $40
Tear duct plug insertion
A procedure to insert a small plug into the tear duct opening to help retain tears on the eye surface.
 16 $163 $293
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.
Looking for an optometrist in Portland?
Compare optometrists in the Portland area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
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Geographic Context

Optometrists within 10 mi
59
Per 100K population
84.9
County median income
$67,512
Nearest hospital
CHRISTUS SPOHN HOSPITAL CORPUS CHRISTI
10.1 mi

Data Sources

Provider Registry ✓ NPPES Weekly updates
Medicare Enrollment ✓ PECOS Monthly updates
Practice Data ✓ Medicare Util. Annual (CY lag)
Industry Payments — No payments N/A
Disciplinary History — Not public N/A

This provider has data in 3 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of High. This measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →

Summary

Dr. Nelson is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 0% in TX), 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. Nelson experienced with eye exam, established patient, focused?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Nelson performed 1,166 eye exam, established patient, focused 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.
How do Dr. Nelson's costs compare to other optometrists in Portland?
Dr. Nelson's average Medicare payment per service is $72. 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 High for Dr. Nelson) 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 ↗, 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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →