Paula Christine Nicola, M.D.
NPI 1659319010ActiveIndividual· Ophthalmology· Chattanooga, TN
Ophthalmology (M.D.) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, trained at University of South Alabama College of Medicine (class of 2002). Their prescriptions cost Medicare Part D more than their services did: $83,006 for 914 claims, against $53,150 paid for services in 2024. Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported $52.91 in payments in 2025, mostly food and beverage.
Overview
| NPI | 1659319010 |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Entity type | Individual |
| Credential | M.D. |
| Sole proprietor | Yes |
| NPI issued | Jun 4, 2006 |
| Last updated in NPPES | Dec 10, 2020 |
| Certified by provider | Dec 10, 2020 |
Specialties and licenses
| Taxonomy | Code | License | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmology Primary | 207W00000X | MD0000037970 | TN |
| Preventive Medicine, Addiction Medicine | 2083A0300X | 0000037970 | TN |
Exclusion screening
| List | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| HHS-OIG LEIE · Nov 10, 2026 | No match | Checked by NPI and by name + state |
| North Carolina Medicaid · Nov 11, 2026 | No match | — |
| New York OMIG · Nov 11, 2026 | No match | — |
| Ohio Medicaid · Nov 11, 2026 | No match | — |
| Pennsylvania Medicheck · Nov 11, 2026 | No match | — |
| Washington HCA · Nov 11, 2026 | No match | — |
Official OIG search · How matching works ·Bulk check a roster
Medicare
| Enrollment (PECOS) | Enrolled Practitioner - Ophthalmology (TN) |
|---|---|
| Accepts assignment | Yes (participating) |
Medicare services in 2024
| Medicare patients | 411 |
|---|---|
| Services billed | 1,156 across 18 procedure codes |
| Paid by Medicare | $53,150 |
Part D prescriptions in 2024
| Prescriptions (claims) | 914 · 1,736 30-day fills |
|---|---|
| Patients | 217 |
| Total drug cost | $83,006 |
| Generic share | 71% of claims |
Education and affiliations
| Medical school | University of South Alabama College of Medicine |
|---|---|
| Graduation year | 2002 |
| Medicare specialty | Ophthalmology |
Hospital affiliation
- Erlanger Medical CenterChattanooga, TN
Industry payments (Open Payments)
- 2025$52.91 · 2 payments from 1 company
- 2024$183.07 · 7 payments from 4 companies
Top paying companies in 2025
| Company | Amount | Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | $52.91 | 2 |
What the 2025 payments were for
- Food and Beverage$52.91 · 2 payments
Receiving payments does not imply wrongdoing. What Open Payments covers ·original records
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All 44 ophthalmologists in Chattanooga · All ophthalmologists in Tennessee