Medicare Enrolled

Dr. David Skale, M.D.

Ophthalmology · Wenatchee, WA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice — Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Mixed engagement
933 RED APPLE RD, Wenatchee, WA 98801
5096638711
In practice since 2008 (18 years)
NPI: 1568636462 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Skale 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. Skale? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →

What this data tells you about Dr. Skale

Dr. David Skale is an ophthalmology specialist in Wenatchee, WA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Skale performed 3,095 Medicare services across 1,298 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Skale received a total of $6,372 from 11 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 13 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in ophthalmology. 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. Skale is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.

✓ 18 years in practice ▲ Top 27% volume in WA $6,372 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
3,095
Medicare services
Top 27% in WA for ophthalmology
1,298
Unique beneficiaries
$63
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~172 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 injection for retinal disease
A procedure involving the administration of medication directly into the eye.
1,495 $77 $381
Comprehensive eye exam, established patient
A comprehensive examination of the visual system performed for a patient who has previously been seen by the provider.
705 $57 $254
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.
212 $74 $302
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.
198 $44 $205
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.
97 $15 $69
Retinal angiography with dye injection
This procedure uses a special camera to examine the blood vessels in the retina after a dye has been injected into the body.
85 $32 $140
Optic nerve imaging (OCT scan)
Imaging of the optic nerve.
78 $15 $72
Ultrasound of eye tissue and structures
A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the eye's internal tissues and structures.
70 $23 $95
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.
34 $22 $89
Retinal imaging (OCT scan)
This procedure involves imaging the retina to visualize its structure. It is used to examine the back of the eye.
34 $8 $137
Retinal photocoagulation to prevent detachment
This procedure uses laser light to create small burns on the retina. It is performed to help prevent the retina from detaching from the back of the eye.
31 $160 $1,940
Eye drainage system examination
An examination of the internal drainage system of the eye to assess how fluid flows and drains from the eye.
16 $15 $69
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.
15 $102 $415
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.
14 $113 $448
Fluorescein angiography of retina
A special camera captures images of the blood vessels in the retina and the area between the white part of the eye and the retina after a dye is injected.
11 $40 $178
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.

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$6,372
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,062/year across 6 years
Top 12% in WA for ophthalmology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
11
Companies
13
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
$5,914 (92.8%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$458 (7.2%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$5,914
2023
$16
2022
$18
2020
$19
2019
$119
2018
$285

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Carl Zeiss Meditec Digital Innovations LLC
$5,914
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Carl Zeiss Meditec Digital Innovations LLC
$5,914
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$110
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
$102
Allergan Inc.
$65
Alimera Sciences, Inc.
$42
NotalVision
$35
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$32
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
$19
Shire North American Group Inc
$19
Genentech USA, Inc.
$18
Bausch & Lomb, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$15
Top 3 companies account for 96.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Catalys Laser System · DUREZOL · EYLEA AFLIBERCEPT INJECTION · ForeseeHome · ILUVIEN · Lucentis · None Specified · OZURDEX · VERACITY SURGICAL · VISUDYNE · XIIDRA
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.

Looking for an ophthalmology specialist in Wenatchee?
Compare ophthalmologists in the Wenatchee area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse ophthalmologists nearby

Geographic Context

Ophthalmologists within 10 mi
16
Per 100K population
20.1
County median income
$78,306
Nearest hospital
QUINCY VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
29.7 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 reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →

Summary

Dr. Skale is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 27% in WA), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 12% of WA peers, with 18 years of NPI registration.

This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Skale experienced with eye injection for retinal disease?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Skale performed 1,495 eye injection for retinal disease 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. Skale receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Skale received a total of $6,372 from 11 companies across 13 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. Skale's costs compare to other ophthalmologists in Wenatchee?
Dr. Skale's average Medicare payment per service is $63. 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. Skale) 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 →
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. Data Coverage reflects 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 →