2026 NPPES data Family Medicine Physician NPI 1710922398 MD
Verify on CMS →

APRIL COTTON, MD

Family Medicine Physician in HUDSON, North Carolina. CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System profile including specialty classification, practice address, and Medicare prescribing data when reported.

Federal data — no proprietary rating. PlainDoctor publishes the actual CMS NPPES and Medicare records — NPI registration, specialty, practice location, and prescribing data — without a composite score or editorial opinion on top. Every field traces to a federal source.
Prescribing volume
10K
Medicare Part D claims · 571 beneficiaries · Family Medicine Physician avg: 3K
Generic prescribing
86%
generic claims · 14% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$595.6
33 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

APRIL COTTON, MD filed 9,579 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Family Medicine Physician in HUDSON, North Carolina, prescribing 86% generic.

10K
Part D claims, 2023
86%
generic prescribing
Likely
board-certified (heuristic)

Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records (NPPES, Medicare Part D, MIPS, Open Payments) — no proprietary rating or editorial opinion is applied.

APRIL COTTON, MD's Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber

Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023 — across all CMS prescribers nationally

9,579 Top 2% higher than 98% of 1,370,886 prescribers

0–200: 670,926 prescribers (49%). Below this entry. 200–400: 182,923 prescribers (13%). Below this entry. 400–600: 90,619 prescribers (7%). Below this entry. 600–800: 56,224 prescribers (4%). Below this entry. 800–1,000: 40,919 prescribers (3%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,200: 31,827 prescribers (2%). Below this entry. 1,200–1,400: 26,224 prescribers (2%). Below this entry. 1,400–1,600: 21,710 prescribers (2%). Below this entry. 1,600–1,800: 19,072 prescribers (1%). Below this entry. 1,800–2,000: 16,451 prescribers (1%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,200: 213,991 prescribers (16%). This entry sits in this band. This provider 0 2K+ every Part D prescriber (claims/yr), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more prescribers. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File · 2023

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

APRIL COTTON, MD practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + 1 hospital affiliation — signals consistent with board-certified status. For verified board certification, see CertificationMatters.org (the official ABMS public lookup).

What does the federal data show about APRIL COTTON, MD?

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 06/18/2006

NPI 1710922398

Primary specialty

Family Medicine Physician

High-volume

147,640 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

9,579 180% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 3,418

Specialty distribution in North Carolina

How Family Medicine Physician compares to other specialties among North Carolina providers

North Carolina providers

Family Medicine Physician share within North Carolina

1. Family Medicine Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Family Medicine Physician share within North Carolina

Specialty board-certification context

Estimated specialty board-certified rate — Family Medicine Physician (ABMS / AOA reference)

Quality data not reported
Est. board-certified rate
78%
Family Medicine Physician ABMS/AOA estimate

Est. board-certified rate (Family Medicine Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Family Medicine Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores providers 0–100 across four performance categories: Quality, Cost, Promoting Interoperability, and Improvement Activities, weighted under 42 CFR §414.1380. Reporting is voluntary for many small practices, so absence of a MIPS score is not a quality signal.

Board certification through an ABMS or AOA member board signals voluntary post-licensure examination plus continuous Maintenance of Certification cycles. Verify any individual provider's status through certificationmatters.org (ABMS) or osteopathic.org (AOA).

APRIL COTTON, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Family Medicine Physician provider holding MD credentials at 270 PINE MOUNTAIN RD, HUDSON, NC, 28638, with a listed phone of (828) 757-6330. NPI 1710922398 was issued on 06/18/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what COTTON most recently submitted to CMS rather than a vetted directory listing, which is why patients should always confirm the practice is still at this location before scheduling.

Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 9,579 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 571 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $934K in drug spend, split 14% brand-name and 86% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 1.9%. These figures capture only Medicare Part D — commercial insurance, Medicaid, and cash-pay prescriptions are not included, and any drug-beneficiary cell under 11 is suppressed by CMS for patient privacy.

Family Medicine Physician is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 147,640 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 3,418 Part D claims per prescriber, so the context for interpreting these metrics differs meaningfully from a primary-care baseline. Important: PlainDoctor is a directory of publicly available government data, not medical advice, a malpractice database, or a quality rating. Inclusion here does not imply a recommendation, and absence of complaints or sanctions on this page does not mean none exist — always verify credentials through the NPPES NPI Registry, your state medical board, and the ABMS or AOA before making healthcare decisions.

Practice Address

270 PINE MOUNTAIN RD
HUDSON, NC 28638

Provider Details

NPI 1710922398
Specialty Family Medicine Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Female
NPI Issued 06/18/2006

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where APRIL COTTON, MD bills Medicare from. Star ratings (1-5) are CMS Hospital Compare's "Hospital overall rating" — a composite of mortality, readmission, patient experience, safety, timely care, and efficient use of medical imaging measures. Source: CMS Care Compare.

CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INC
LENOIR, NC

Affiliations sourced from CMS Doctors and Clinicians National Downloadable File; hospital ratings from CMS Hospital General Information dataset (cross-referenced by facility name + state).

Industry payments received (2024) — CMS Open Payments transparency data

The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act (part of the Affordable Care Act) requires drug and medical-device manufacturers + group purchasing organizations to publicly report payments and other transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals. The data below covers 2024 for APRIL COTTON, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$596

Largest payer

Novo Nordisk Inc

Most common payment type

Food and Beverage

Industry payments are not necessarily indicators of bias — they include research funding, consulting fees for evidence-based work, royalties for inventions, food at conferences, and similar items. The disclosure exists for transparency. Read our methodology for how we interpret this data.

Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Typical

APRIL COTTON, MD — brand share 14.0%
Specialty average (est.)

14% brand-name claims vs 86% generic, on 9,579 2023 Medicare Part D claims.

The federal Medicare Part D Generic Dispensing Rate national benchmark sits near 90% generic / 10% brand for primary-care prescribers, per CMS Office of the Actuary 2024 estimates. Higher brand share is common in specialty prescribing where generic equivalents are not available.

Medicare Part D Prescribing Data

CMS Medicare Part D prescriber-level data for calendar year 2023.

9,579
Total Claims
$934K
Total Drug Cost
571
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
21,826
Total Day Supply
639,614
Brand vs Generic
14% brand / 86% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$803K
Generic Drug Cost
$128K
Opioid Claims
184 (1.9% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
197

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
74.8 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.28
Gender Split
78% female / 22% male
Age Distribution
<65: 52, 65-74: 211, 75-84: 222, 85+: 86

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.

What APRIL COTTON, MD prescribes most

Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023

claims
Source CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File As of 2023
Drug Claims
Levothyroxine Sodium
523
Amlodipine Besylate
440
Atorvastatin Calcium
404
Lisinopril
356
Omeprazole
311
Metoprolol Succinate
294
Losartan Potassium
257
Pantoprazole Sodium
238
Pravastatin Sodium
181
Gabapentin
175

* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.

Family Medicine Physician Overview

How APRIL COTTON, MD fits within the Family Medicine Physician landscape nationally.

147,640
Family Medicine Physician Providers in US
56
States with Family Medicine Physician
3,418
Avg Claims per Provider

APRIL COTTON, MD's 9,579 claims are above the specialty average of 3,418.

Nearby Family Medicine Physician Providers in North Carolina

Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in North Carolina, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as COTTON.

Compare Family Medicine Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is APRIL COTTON, MD's specialty?
APRIL COTTON, MD specializes in Family Medicine Physician and practices in HUDSON, North Carolina. Credentials: MD.
How much does APRIL COTTON, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, APRIL COTTON, MD wrote 9,579 Medicare Part D claims totaling $934K in drug costs for 571 beneficiaries.
Where is APRIL COTTON, MD located?
APRIL COTTON, MD is located at 270 PINE MOUNTAIN RD, HUDSON, NC, 28638. Phone: (828) 757-6330.
What is APRIL COTTON, MD's NPI number?
APRIL COTTON, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1710922398, issued on 06/18/2006.
Does APRIL COTTON, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
APRIL COTTON, MD's prescribing is 14% brand-name and 86% generic drugs by claim count, with $803K in brand drug costs.
Does APRIL COTTON, MD prescribe opioids?
Yes, APRIL COTTON, MD had 184 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 1.9%.
How many Family Medicine Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 147,640 Family Medicine Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Family Medicine Physician provider writes 3,418 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does APRIL COTTON, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, APRIL COTTON, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Levothyroxine Sodium, Amlodipine Besylate, Atorvastatin Calcium. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does APRIL COTTON, MD accept Medicare?
APRIL COTTON, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 9,579 Part D claims and 571 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify APRIL COTTON, MD's credentials?
APRIL COTTON, MD's NPI is 1710922398 with credentials MD. You can verify this through the NPPES NPI Registry, check state medical board records, and confirm board certification through the ABMS or AOA.

Data Sources

Provider Directory
CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), download.cms.gov/nppes, updated monthly. Contains NPI, specialty, credentials, and practice location.
Specialty Classification
NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy (nucc.org), the industry standard for classifying provider specialties in Medicare and Medicaid billing.
Prescribing Data
CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File (2023). Includes claims, drug costs, beneficiaries, and opioid prescribing rates.
Limitations
Provider data is self-reported to CMS. Prescribing data reflects Medicare Part D only and does not include commercial insurance, Medicaid, or cash prescriptions. Claims below 11 beneficiaries are suppressed by CMS for privacy.

See our complete data methodology for details on how we collect and process government data.

Data as of April 2026 (NPPES) / 2023 (Medicare Part D). Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Disclaimer: Data from CMS NPPES and Medicare Part D. PlainDoctor does not rate or rank providers. Provider information is self-reported and may not be current. Always verify information directly with the provider. About · Methodology