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 in practice. 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.

ProcedureVolumeAvg. paidAvg. submitted
Eye exam, established patient, focused1,166$59$90
Retinal photography (fundus photo)793$27$46
Exam of the internal drainage system of eye681$19$35
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient587$90$122
Comprehensive eye exam, new patient402$107$150
Dilation of tear drainage opening246$100$190
Measurement of retinal and optic nerve function130$88$145
Placement of amniotic membrane on eye surface for wound healing64$931$1,352
Removal of foreign body in cornea using slit lamp46$47$72
Removal of eyelashes using forceps23$12$40
Closure of tear duct opening using plug16$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 a 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✓ NPPESWeekly updates
Medicare Enrollment✓ PECOSMonthly updates
Practice Data✓ Medicare Util.Annual (CY lag)
Industry Payments— No paymentsN/A
Disciplinary History— Not publicN/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 practice experience.

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 →