Quick answers
- Does Walter L. King Jr. accept Medicare assignment?
- Yes. Medicare's clinician data says Walter L. King Jr. accepts Medicare assignment (the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for covered services), as of October 2, 2026. Ask the office to confirm before your visit.
- How many Medicare patients does Walter L. King Jr. see?
- In 2024, CMS data shows 306 Original Medicare patients and 434 services for Walter L. King Jr.. This counts Original Medicare only and measures volume, not quality.
- What is Walter L. King Jr.'s NPI number?
- 1639162597. The NPI (National Provider Identifier) is the clinician's permanent federal ID; you can look it up in the official NPI Registry.
Medicare activity in 2024
Official CMS public-use data for Walter L. King Jr., data year 2024 (released May 21, 2026). It covers Original Medicare (fee-for-service) patients only, not Medicare Advantage or other insurance. It shows volume, not quality or outcomes. CMS hides any count of 10 or fewer patients.
| Original Medicare patients | 306 |
|---|---|
| Services billed to Medicare | 434 |
| Different services or procedures | 12 |
| Participating Medicare provider | Yes |
| Average age of these patients | 74 |
Most frequent services
- Established patient office or other outpatient visit with low level od decision making, if using time, 20 minutes or more (99213)198 services
- Photography of the retina (92250)98 services
- Established patient office or other outpatient visit with moderate level of decision making, if using time, 30 minutes or more (99214)74 services
- Established patient office or other outpatient visit with straightforward medical decision making, if using time, 10 minutes or more (99212)21 services
- Imaging of retina (92134)14 services
Chronic conditions among these patients
Share of this clinician’s Original Medicare patients with each condition, as published by CMS (it describes the patients, not the care given).
- High cholesterol75%
- High blood pressure73%
- Arthritis39%
- Diabetes34%
- Chronic kidney disease23%
- Anxiety22%
Practice locations
Addresses where Walter L. King Jr. is enrolled with Medicare (CMS data updated October 2, 2026).
- 336 10th Ave NEHickory, NC 28601 (828) 322‑4973
Specialties
- Optometryprimary
Other optometrists in Hickory
Clinicians with the same Medicare primary specialty in Hickory, NC — not a recommendation.
Clinician information
| Graduation year | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Gender (as listed) | Male |
| Medicare assignment | Accepts (Medicare-approved amount as full payment) |
| NPI (National Provider Identifier) | 1639162597 |
| Corrections | Report an error or suggest an update → |
Most corrections must be made at the source: clinicians update their NPI Registry record (NPPES) and their Medicare enrollment (PECOS); this page follows the next data release.
Sources
- National Downloadable File (Doctors and Clinicians) — CMS, data updated October 2, 2026, retrieved October 29, 2026
- Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners - by Provider — CMS, data year 2024, released May 21, 2026; Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners - by Provider and Service
- NPI Registry — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NPPES), the clinician’s official record
- Medicare Care Compare — official Medicare tool to look up clinicians