2026 NPPES data Anesthesiology Physician NPI 1689628117 MD
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ASHAR AFZAL, MD

Anesthesiology Physician in WATERLOO, Iowa. 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
2K
Medicare Part D claims · 300 beneficiaries · Anesthesiology Physician avg: 860
Generic prescribing
99%
generic claims · 1% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$48.23
2 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
What the federal data reveals: ASHAR AFZAL, MD is a Anesthesiology Physician ([object Object]) practicing in WATERLOO, Iowa with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 2K claims across 300 beneficiaries — 1% brand-name prescribing . Industry payments of $48.23 across 2 transactions are disclosed under CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act).

What stands out: ASHAR AFZAL, MD filed 1,600 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 across WATERLOO, Iowa. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

ASHAR AFZAL, 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).

ASHAR AFZAL, MD at a glance

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 05/20/2006

NPI 1689628117

Primary specialty

Anesthesiology Physician

High-volume

56,398 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

1,600 86% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 860

Specialty distribution in Iowa

How Anesthesiology Physician compares to other specialties among Iowa providers

Iowa providers

Anesthesiology Physician share within Iowa

1. Anesthesiology Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Anesthesiology Physician share within Iowa

Specialty board-certification context

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

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

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

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Anesthesiology 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).

ASHAR AFZAL, MD is a Anesthesiology Physician provider practicing in WATERLOO, Iowa, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1689628117. This profile includes practice location, specialty classification, and organizational affiliations from the CMS provider registry. Provider information is self-reported to CMS and updated monthly.

ASHAR AFZAL, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Anesthesiology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 3254 KIMBALL AVE, WATERLOO, IA, 50702, with a listed phone of (319) 235-7246. NPI 1689628117 was issued on 05/20/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what AFZAL 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 1,600 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 300 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $31K in drug spend, split 1% brand-name and 99% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 56.6%. 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.

Anesthesiology Physician is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 56,398 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 860 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

3254 KIMBALL AVE
WATERLOO, IA 50702

Provider Details

NPI 1689628117
Specialty Anesthesiology Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 05/20/2006

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where ASHAR AFZAL, 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.

CEDAR VALLEY MEDICAL SPECIALISTS PC
WATERLOO, IA

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 ASHAR AFZAL, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$48

Largest payer

Abbott Laboratories

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 · Generic-heavy

ASHAR AFZAL, MD — brand share 1.0%
Specialty average (est.)

1% brand-name claims vs 99% generic, on 1,600 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.

1,600
Total Claims
$31K
Total Drug Cost
300
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
1,684
Total Day Supply
40,314
Brand vs Generic
1% brand / 99% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$2K
Generic Drug Cost
$28K
Opioid Claims
905 (56.6% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
15

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
72.7 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.53
Gender Split
65% female / 35% male
Age Distribution
<65: 46, 65-74: 131, 75-84: 85, 85+: 38

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen
369
Oxycodone-Acetaminophen
Oxycodone Hcl/Acetaminophen
210
Gabapentin
166
Tramadol Hcl
149
Tizanidine Hcl
109
Pregabalin
92
Fentanyl
78
Baclofen
67
Duloxetine Hcl
59
Celecoxib
50

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

Anesthesiology Physician Overview

How ASHAR AFZAL, MD fits within the Anesthesiology Physician landscape nationally.

56,398
Anesthesiology Physician Providers in US
56
States with Anesthesiology Physician
860
Avg Claims per Provider

ASHAR AFZAL, MD's 1,600 claims are above the specialty average of 860.

Nearby Anesthesiology Physician Providers in Iowa

Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Iowa, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as AFZAL.

Compare Anesthesiology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ASHAR AFZAL, MD's specialty?
ASHAR AFZAL, MD specializes in Anesthesiology Physician and practices in WATERLOO, Iowa. Credentials: MD.
How much does ASHAR AFZAL, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, ASHAR AFZAL, MD wrote 1,600 Medicare Part D claims totaling $31K in drug costs for 300 beneficiaries.
Where is ASHAR AFZAL, MD located?
ASHAR AFZAL, MD is located at 3254 KIMBALL AVE, WATERLOO, IA, 50702. Phone: (319) 235-7246.
What is ASHAR AFZAL, MD's NPI number?
ASHAR AFZAL, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1689628117, issued on 05/20/2006.
Does ASHAR AFZAL, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
ASHAR AFZAL, MD's prescribing is 1% brand-name and 99% generic drugs by claim count, with $2K in brand drug costs.
Does ASHAR AFZAL, MD prescribe opioids?
Yes, ASHAR AFZAL, MD had 905 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 56.6%.
How many Anesthesiology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 56,398 Anesthesiology Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Anesthesiology Physician provider writes 860 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does ASHAR AFZAL, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, ASHAR AFZAL, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Oxycodone-Acetaminophen, Gabapentin. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does ASHAR AFZAL, MD accept Medicare?
ASHAR AFZAL, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 1,600 Part D claims and 300 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify ASHAR AFZAL, MD's credentials?
ASHAR AFZAL, MD's NPI is 1689628117 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