The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model rates Dr. Buka 4.4★ based on a solid 4.3★ Google profile across 784 reviews, a 95.33th percentile NY CMS volume (4,055 Medicare beneficiaries/yr), and consistent praise for thorough, knowledgeable dermatologic diagnosis. The rating is tempered slightly by recurring reports of long waits, rushed visits, and front-office or billing friction typical of a very high-volume practice.
Dr. Robert Buka, MD (New York, NY Dermatology): GreatDoc™ Score, Real Patient Reviews, Procedure Volume & First-Visit Guide.
Dr. Robert Buka, MD is a board-registered Dermatology specialist in New York, NY (NPI #1427029180) with 29+ years of clinical experience caring for 4,055 Medicare beneficiaries per year (14,079 annual clinical procedures) and holding a 4.4 ★ GreatDoc™ Rating.
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dotMD.com is an independent physician transparency platform engineered by the dotMD Clinical Systems Architecture Team (`audit@dotmd.com`). Physicians cannot pay to alter their GreatDoc™ Score, hide negative patient reviews, or boost placement:
- CMS NPPES & State Medical Board Verification: National Provider Identifier (NPI) credentials, active practice addresses, and taxonomy subspecialties are cross-checked against the Federal CMS NPPES Registry .
- CMS Medicare Part B Procedure & Patient Volume Auditing: Annual unique Medicare beneficiary counts and CPT/HCPCS procedure utilization percentiles are verified directly against CMS Medicare Part B Public Use Files .
- GreatDoc™ Score via `dotMD-ClaimAudit v4.2`: Public Google patient reviews, bedside manner sentiment, and front-desk billing feedback are synthesized alongside federal CPT volume.
The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model rates Dr. Buka 4.4★ based on a solid 4.3★ Google profile across 784 reviews, a 95.33th percentile NY CMS volume (4,055 Medicare beneficiaries/yr), and consistent praise for thorough, knowledgeable dermatologic diagnosis. The rating is tempered slightly by recurring reports of long waits, rushed visits, and front-office or billing friction typical of a very high-volume practice.
Does Dr. Robert Buka, MD Take Your Insurance?
Click your carrier below to check Original Medicare Part B, Commercial PPOs, HMO/IPA referral rules, and CPT 99204 superbill verification—with zero sign-up wall:
DotMD Star Rating & Patient Reviews for Dr. Robert Buka, MD
Seeded with our independent DotMD Clinical & CMS Volume Audit (4.4 ★) and updated live by real patients in New York, NY.
Verified DotMD Evaluations & Patient Reviews (1)
Sorted by Newest & Clinical RelevanceDoes Dr. Robert Buka, MD Take My Insurance?
Check your carrier and plan type below—we separate Original Medicare Part B, Commercial Employer PPOs, and HMO/IPA Referral Plans so you never get surprised at check-in.
Participating Provider—accepts Medicare-approved assignment + Medigap (Plan G / N / F).
Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna & UnitedHealthcare PPOs (no PCP referral required).
Advantage PPOs work directly; HMO plans require prior authorization from your contracted Medical Group (IPA).
Ask the billing desk for their direct prompt-pay rate and request an itemized CPT 99204 superbill for out-of-network PPO reimbursement.
Original Medicare (Part B) + Medigap Supplement
✓ Verified Participating (Accepts Assignment)Federal CMS Part B records verify NPI #1427029180 treats 4,055 Medicare beneficiaries/yr and accepts Medicare-approved allowable fees (80% Medicare + 20% Medigap after annual Part B deductible).
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
✓ Major PPO Plans AcceptedEmployer and individual PPO plans are widely accepted. Avoid confusing Anthem PPO with Anthem Pathway EPO or Medi-Cal Managed Care HMO, which restrict out-of-group specialists.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS National BlueCard)
✓ PPO & BlueCard AcceptedIf you have Blue Shield Trio HMO or Access+ HMO, you must first obtain an authorized specialist referral from your assigned Primary Care Medical Group (IPA).
Aetna (CVS Health)
✓ Open Choice PPO & POS IIConfirm your specific employer group network ID on the back of your Aetna card when scheduling.
UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
✓ Choice Plus & Options PPOUHC Medicare Advantage HMO (AARP) plans require your primary care medical group to match the specialist’s contracted IPA; UHC PPO plans allow direct self-referral.
Cigna Healthcare
✓ Open Access Plus (OAP) & PPONo primary care referral is required for Cigna Open Access Plus (OAP) or PPO plans.
Medicare Advantage (Part C — Humana, SCAN, Alignment, UHC, Aetna)
⚠ PPO Direct • HMO Needs IPA AuthUnlike Original Medicare Part B (where you can see any participating specialist nationwide), Medicare Advantage HMOs lock you to a specific Medical Group (IPA). Ask the front desk if they are contracted with your specific IPA before booking.
Kaiser Permanente, Commercial HMOs & Medi-Cal / Medicaid
⚠ Out-of-Network / Auth RequiredClosed-panel HMOs (like Kaiser Permanente) and narrow-network EPO/Medi-Cal plans generally do not cover independent Beverly Hills private-practice specialists unless you pay cash or obtain a formal gap-exception authorization.
“Hi, I’m scheduling a new consultation with Dr. Robert Buka (NPI #1427029180). Can you confirm that your practice tax ID is in-network with my specific [Carrier Name & Plan Tier] for CPT 99204 (New-Patient Specialist Consult) and CPT 99214 (Established Follow-Up Visit), and let me know if any annual administrative fee applies?”
Walk Into Your 15-Minute Appointment With Exact Labs, CPT Codes & Opening Words
Clinicians interrupt patients after a median of 11 seconds (J Gen Intern Med, PMID 29972200). Select your appointment reason below to generate your 1-page script:
Hypothyroidism, Subclinical TSH Drift (2.5–8.0 mIU/L) or Thyroid Nodule
"I have two specific goals for our 15 minutes today: first, my morning TSH is [X] mIU/L with persistent fatigue and cold intolerance, so I would like to evaluate Free T4, Free T3, TPO Antibodies, and Ferritin together; second, if we palpate any thyroid asymmetry, can we perform an in-office neck ultrasound (CPT 76536)?"
Confirms the endocrinologist images thyroid nodules themselves rather than sending you to a hospital radiology department.
Identifies structural thyroid specialists vs. general diabetes-only clinics.
- ✓ TSH + Free T4 + Free T3 (drawn before 8:30 AM fasting)
- ✓ Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) & Thyroglobulin Antibodies (Hashimoto rule-out)
- ✓ Serum Ferritin + Vitamin D 25(OH)D (required for T4-to-T3 deiodinase conversion)
Hold all Biotin (Vitamin B7) supplements for 72 hours before your blood draw so streptavidin assay interference does not create a false TSH/Free T4 reading.
Prediabetes (HbA1c 5.7%–6.4%), Type 2 Diabetes or Insulin Resistance
"My recent HbA1c came back at [X]%. Today I want to check my Fasting Insulin to calculate HOMA-IR, discuss starting Extended-Release Metformin ER ($5.40/mo cash) or a 14-day Continuous Glucose Monitor trial (CPT 95251), and establish a 90-day re-test target below 5.4%."
Verifies the clinic actively prescribes and interprets Dexcom/Libre CGM sensor data.
Standard outpatient evaluation code; ask for transparent self-pay rates ($120–$180) if uninsured.
- ✓ HbA1c + Fasting Plasma Glucose + Fasting Serum Insulin (HOMA-IR)
- ✓ Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (eGFR + ALT/AST liver enzymes for fatty liver check)
- ✓ Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) + Annual Serum Vitamin B12 (if on Metformin)
Bring a 3-day log of post-dinner fingerstick or CGM readings and confirm whether your pharmacy filled Metformin ER (Extended-Release) rather than immediate-release.
Stage 1–2 Hypertension (≥ 130/80 mmHg) or Elevated LDL-C / ApoB / Lp(a)
"My 7-day rested home blood pressure averages [X/Y] mmHg and my LDL-C is [Z] mg/dL. Today I would like to review my home cuff log against office white-coat readings, order direct Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and one-time genetic Lipoprotein(a), and decide if a CAC score or low-dose statin/ARB is warranted."
Assesses left ventricular wall thickness and valve function directly in the cardiology suite.
Baseline rhythm and conduction screen prior to antihypertensive titration.
- ✓ Direct Apolipoprotein B (ApoB target < 80 mg/dL) + One-Time Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a) in nmol/L]
- ✓ High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP < 1.0 mg/L)
- ✓ Basic Metabolic Panel (Serum Potassium + eGFR 2–4 weeks after starting Lisinopril/Losartan)
Bring your physical home upper-arm BP cuff to the clinic to validate calibration, along with a 7-day written morning/evening seated average.
Unexplained Fatigue, Restless Legs or Hair Shedding with "Normal" Ferritin (15–35 ng/mL)
"Even though my hemoglobin is normal, my Serum Ferritin is [X] ng/mL and I am experiencing persistent fatigue and hair shedding. Can we check a fasting Iron Panel with Transferrin Saturation (TSAT), rule out celiac/GI malabsorption, and target a Ferritin above 50–75 ng/mL?"
Confirms the hematology clinic can administer IV iron when oral iron fails or causes GI distress.
Tracks mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and early reticulocyte hemoglobin response.
- ✓ Serum Ferritin + Fasting Serum Iron + TIBC + Transferrin Saturation (TSAT %)
- ✓ Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content (CHr) + Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- ✓ Vitamin B12 + Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) + Folate + Tissue Transglutaminase IgA (Celiac screen)
Stop oral iron supplements for 24 hours before drawing a fasting morning Serum Iron and TSAT panel so circulating pill iron does not skew saturation.
Chronic Acid Reflux (GERD), IBS Bloating, Iron Loss or Screening Colonoscopy
"I have had [reflux / bloating / unexplained low ferritin] for [X] months. Today I want to distinguish upper GI mucosal issues from functional motility, review a step-down plan so I am not stuck on a PPI indefinitely, and verify whether you perform diagnostic EGD (CPT 43239) or colonoscopy (CPT 45385) at an ambulatory center."
High annual CPT 45385 volume (>300/yr) correlates with higher adenoma detection rates and safer polypectomy.
Rules out Barrett esophagus, H. pylori gastritis, and duodenal celiac villous atrophy.
- ✓ H. pylori Stool Antigen or Urea Breath Test (must be off PPIs for 14 days prior)
- ✓ Fecal Calprotectin + Fecal Occult Blood (distinguishes IBD inflammation from IBS)
- ✓ Celiac Serology (tTG-IgA + Total Serum IgA while still eating gluten)
Always request an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) facility quote rather than a hospital outpatient department (HOPD) for endoscopy/colonoscopy to save $1,200–$2,400 in facility fees.
What Real Patients Praise vs. Watch Out For
- **Friendly, Thorough Communication:** Patients frequently describe Dr. Buka as professional and knowledgeable, noting he explains diagnoses and treatment options clearly.
- **High-Volume Diagnostic Expertise:** Roughly 14,079 annual procedures and 4,055 Medicare patients per year place him in the top 5% of New York dermatologists by volume, and reviewers say he spots diagnoses quickly and treats effectively.
- **Effective, Results-Oriented Care:** Reviewers highlight successful treatment outcomes, with strong ratings on WebMD (4.5/5) and generally positive scores on Healthgrades and Zocdoc.
- Expect possible long waits and brief visits at this high-volume clinic. Book early-day or off-peak appointments, arrive with your concerns prioritized, and confirm whether you will see Dr. Buka or an assistant/PA.
- Before your first visit, verify insurance acceptance, bring your insurance card, ID, and a current medication list, and ask about billing and prescription follow-up processes, since staff responsiveness is a commonly reported concern.
“My experience was very pleasant. The location is in the beautiful South Street Seaport neighborhood. The office has a cool artsy vibe with old movie posters, exposed brick with brick red painted walls. Dr. Began was so thorough and listened to my concerns. She was very attentive and very pleasant during my annual scree”
“I've been seeing Dr. Dina Began now for a few years and I've been really blessed having suffered really bad acne well into my adulthood. BUT... recently, I've found that the services have suffered greatly at the Front Street location. I have recently been seen by Dr. Began, but the refills that she initiated never went”
“Dr. Began was very prompt, informative, knowledgeable, and personable. She didn't push any one course of treatment, and was sure to lay out all of my options. She was transparent about side effects for everything, as well as what she sees having the most success for her patients. I would 10/10 go to her again. The loc”
“Showed up on time for 9:20 appointment. Was informed by front desk that the doctor won’t be there til 10, and there were 3 patients in front of me. I cancelled because I didn’t have time to wait 1hr+ to be seen. There was no apology offered for lack of communication. Definitely pay attention to reviews about scheduling”
What Procedures & Visits Does Dr. Buka Actually Perform Most?
Instead of relying on self-reported marketing checklists, dotMD audits the actual CPT and HCPCS procedure codes billed by Dr. Buka to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—translating each billing code into what happens in the exam room:
What This Doctor Actually Performs: CMS Medicare Utilization & New York Percentiles
NPI #1427029180 • CBSA 35620 • Dermatology
Top Billed HCPCS/CPT Procedures (CMS Medicare Part B)
| HCPCS | Clinical Procedure Description | Annual Volume | Local Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17000 | Cryotherapy Destruction of Premalignant Actinic Lesion | 4,614 | 95.63th |
| 99213 | Focused Cutaneous & Dermoscopic Examination | 4,207 | 99.5th |
| 11102 | Tangential Diagnostic Skin Biopsy of Single Lesion | 2,579 | 97.63th |
| 11401 | Excision of Benign Cutaneous Lesion (0.6 to 1.0 cm) | 1,357 | 98.63th |
| 99203 | New Patient Full-Body Skin Cancer & Dermatology Evaluation | 814 | 96.63th |
| 96372 | Therapeutic Subcutaneous/Intramuscular Injection Administration (126 HCPCS billing breadth) | 507 | 95.63th |
Granular CPT/HCPCS billing distribution at Bobby Buka M.d. Pc, 220 Front Street shows Dr. Robert Buka's primary concentration in Cryotherapy Destruction of Premalignant Actinic Lesion (code 17000: 4614x/yr, 95.63th local percentile) alongside Focused Cutaneous & Dermoscopic Examination (99213: 4207x/yr, $143–$196).
Within the New York, NY (CBSA 35620) Dermatology cohort, Dr. Robert Buka, MD with sub-specialty concentration in 126 Active CMS HCPCS Codes ranks at the 95.63th municipal percentile and 95.33th NY percentile (+1.27σ Z-score) based on 14,079 billed procedures for 4,055 patients.
Top 10% Dermatology volume leader in New York, NY
14,079 annual services across 4,055 beneficiaries
Standard deviations from NY Dermatology mean utilization
Are you Dr. Robert Buka? Embed your Official DotMD Verification Badge (0-JS SVG)
Paste this lightweight SVG snippet onto your clinic bio page in New York, NY:
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Dr. Robert Buka, MD Federal CMS & NPPES Verification
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Buka National Provider Identifier | NPI #1427029180 (MD) | CMS NPPES Registry (10038) |
| Dr. Buka New York CMS Volume Rank | 95.63th Pct (14,079 CMS svcs; Z +1.268σ) | CMS Medicare Part B (NY Dermatology) |
| Annual Medicare Patients Treated | 4,055 unique Medicare beneficiaries/yr | CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners (NY) |
| Statewide Specialty Volume Percentile | 95.33th Percentile in NY | CMS NY Dermatology Peer Distribution |
Conditions, Medications & Diagnostic Workups Managed at This Practice
Primary Conditions & Diagnostic Workups
Plain-English diagnostic cutoffs, 3-zone lab translators, and evidence-graded treatment roadmaps for conditions commonly evaluated in Dermatology.
Prescriptions, Dosing Rules & Wholesale Prices
Compare real pharmacy acquisition invoices (CMS NADAC) against retail cash prices, meal-timing rules, and organ safety thresholds.
Breakthrough Trials & Supplement Stoichiometry
Audit clinical trial Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR & NNT) and TrueDose™ elemental supplement label math before your visit.
Bobby Buka M.d. Pc, 220 Front Street, New York, NY 10038
NPI #1427029180 • Active Medicare Part B & Commercial PPO Specialist • Confirm your plan tier and any annual administrative fee when booking.
The Top 6 Questions Patients Ask About Dr. Robert Buka, MD—Answered in Plain English
Sequenced by what you need most before booking: (1) Conditions & In-Office Procedures, (2) Medicare, Insurance & Upfront Billing Rules, (3) Day-1 Lab Checklist, Parking & Wait Times, and (4) Credentials, Hospital Affiliations & Local Peer Benchmarks.
What is Dr. Buka's clinical practice focus and patient volume in New York, NY?
Federal CMS Medicare Part B records show Dr. Buka treats 4,055 unique Medicare beneficiaries and performs 14,079 clinical services per year—ranking in the 95th percentile across NY [1][2].
Annual CMS Part B utilization data tracks every office consultation (CPT 99204/99214), diagnostic evaluation, and therapeutic procedure billed for Medicare beneficiaries at Bobby Buka M.d. Pc, 220 Front Street, New York, NY 10038. Maintaining a 95th-percentile statewide volume means Dr. Buka's clinic manages high-complexity Dermatology cases every week rather than occasional referrals [1][2].
Call the clinic front desk ahead of your visit to confirm whether specific diagnostic procedures are performed in-office or referred to an affiliated hospital center.
Does Dr. Buka accept Original Medicare Part B assignment and major commercial PPO plans?
Dr. Buka is registered in the federal CMS NPPES & PECOS system under NPI #1427029180 in New York, NY, actively treating 4,055 Medicare Part B beneficiaries per year [1][2].
Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for participating Dermatology specialist visits (CPT 99204/99214) after your annual Part B deductible is met, with Medigap supplemental policies typically covering the remaining 20% coinsurance [2].
Before your appointment at Bobby Buka M.d. Pc, 220 Front Street, confirm that your specific commercial PPO/HMO plan tier or Medicare Advantage network is active with the practice billing tax ID, or ask the billing desk for their direct prompt-pay rate and an itemized CPT 99204 superbill [1][2].
Give the reception desk Dr. Buka's 10-digit NPI (#1427029180) when calling your insurer's Member Services line to verify in-network tier status in 60 seconds.
How did Dr. Robert Buka, MD earn a 4.4 ★ GreatDoc™ Rating (86/100)?
The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model rates Dr. Buka 4.4★ based on a solid 4.3★ Google profile across 784 reviews, a 95.33th percentile NY CMS volume (4,055 Medicare beneficiaries/yr), and consistent praise for thorough, knowledgeable dermatologic diagnosis. The rating is tempered slightly by recurring reports of long waits, rushed visits, and front-office or billing friction typical of a very high-volume practice.
The Proprietary DotMD™ J3 Model evaluates practicing U.S. specialists across three independent, non-sponsored pillars: 45% public Google review sentiment (4.3 ★ across 784 reviews), 35% federal CMS Medicare Part B procedure volume (95th percentile in NY), and 20% bedside communication and credential longevity [1][2][3].
Unlike commercial physician directories where doctors can pay for "Featured" placement, every GreatDoc™ Score on dotMD is calculated directly from federal CMS utilization records (NPI #1427029180) and verified patient feedback.
Always check both a specialist's patient review sentiment and their annual CMS procedure volume so you know they actively manage your condition every week.
What lab results, imaging records, and questions should I bring to my first appointment with Dr. Buka?
Bring your last 12 months of sequential blood work (not just a single summary page), prior diagnostic imaging or procedure reports on PDF, and a list of your exact current medications and supplements with doses [3][4].
Because a new-patient Dermatology consultation (CPT 99204/99205) focuses on longitudinal trends rather than isolated snapshots, having 2–3 prior lab panels side-by-side prevents duplicate blood draws and allows Dr. Buka to establish a treatment plan on Day 1.
Write down your top 3 symptom priorities in chronological order (when the symptom started, what makes it better or worse, and which medications you have already tried) and hand that sheet to the nurse during rooming so your 15-minute window stays focused.
Take clear smartphone photos of the front and back Supplement Facts panels of every vitamin you take—hidden ingredients like high-dose biotin can skew immunoassay lab tests.
How can I avoid overpaying at the pharmacy when Dr. Buka prescribes a new medication?
Before leaving the exam room at Bobby Buka M.d. Pc, 220 Front Street, ask Dr. Buka whether a generic first-line option exists and check its federal CMS NADAC wholesale acquisition cost on dotMD [4].
Retail chain pharmacies routinely mark up 3-cent generic maintenance tablets (such as blood pressure, cholesterol, or acid-reflux medications) to $40–$60 cash per month. Asking Dr. Buka to send 90-day generic maintenance prescriptions to transparent cost-plus pharmacies or checking your insurer's Tier 1 preferred list prevents pharmacy counter sticker shock [4].
If a brand-name therapy requires Prior Authorization (PA), ask the clinic's medical assistant which step-therapy labs or prior generic trials must be documented in the chart note before you leave.
Where is Dr. Buka's office located in New York, and how should I plan arrival and follow-up?
Dr. Buka practices at Bobby Buka M.d. Pc, 220 Front Street, New York, NY 10038. Arrive 15 minutes early for new-patient intake and insurance verification [1].
Before leaving the checkout desk, confirm two logistics: (1) whether follow-up lab orders should be drawn fasting in the morning, and (2) whether Dr. Buka reviews incoming lab results via the patient portal or requires a scheduled follow-up visit (CPT 99213/99214).
Save the clinic phone number in your phone contacts and confirm the exact suite number and parking instructions when the office calls to confirm your appointment.
Compare Peer Dermatology Doctors in New York
Verified Primary Registries • CMS NPPES, Medicare Part B & Clinical Guidelines
Federal Physician Records & Clinical Sources ([1]–[4])
Toggle Sources ▾
Federal Physician Records & Clinical Sources ([1]–[4])
Verifies active Type 1 Individual NPI #1427029180, primary taxonomy (Dermatology), and practice location at Bobby Buka M.d. Pc, 220 Front Street, New York, NY 10038.
Primary federal claims ledger recording 4,055 annual Medicare beneficiaries and 14,079 billed HCPCS/CPT services (95.33th NY percentile).
Confirms federal Medicare Part B participation status and E&M consultation billing standards (CPT 99204/99214).
Federal wholesale pharmacy acquisition benchmark used to audit generic vs. brand prescription costs ordered during specialist consultations.
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