2026 NPPES data Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician NPI 1699727172 M.D. PH.D.
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BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician in BOULDER, Colorado. 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
638
Medicare Part D claims · 124 beneficiaries · Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician avg: 266
Generic prescribing
57%
generic claims · 43% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
What the federal data reveals: BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. is a Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician ([object Object]) practicing in BOULDER, Colorado with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 638 claims across 124 beneficiaries — 43% brand-name prescribing .

What stands out: BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. filed 638 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 across BOULDER, Colorado. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + 2 hospital affiliations — signals consistent with board-certified status. For verified board certification, see CertificationMatters.org (the official ABMS public lookup).

BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. at a glance

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 05/16/2006

NPI 1699727172

Primary specialty

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician

Rare

242 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

638 140% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 266

Specialty distribution in Colorado

How Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician compares to other specialties among Colorado providers

Colorado providers

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician share within Colorado

1. Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician share within Colorado

Specialty board-certification context

Estimated specialty board-certified rate — Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician (ABMS / AOA reference)

Quality data not reported
Est. board-certified rate
78%
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician ABMS/AOA estimate

Est. board-certified rate (Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist 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).

BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. is a Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician provider practicing in BOULDER, Colorado, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: M.D. PH.D.. NPI: 1699727172. 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.

BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician provider holding M.D. PH.D. credentials at 4745 ARAPAHOE AVE, BOULDER, CO, 80303, with a listed phone of (303) 444-3000. NPI 1699727172 was issued on 05/16/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what NICHOLS 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 638 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 124 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $130K in drug spend, split 43% brand-name and 57% generic by claim count. 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.

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician is a narrow specialty nationwide, with 242 enrolled providers across 40 states and an average of 266 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

4745 ARAPAHOE AVE
BOULDER, CO 80303

Provider Details

NPI 1699727172
Specialty Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician
Credentials M.D. PH.D.
Gender Male
NPI Issued 05/16/2006

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. 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.

DONALD J KELLER MD PC
BOULDER, CO
EYE CENTER OF NORTHERN COLORADO PC
LOVELAND, CO

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

Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Above average

BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. — brand share 43.0%
Specialty average (est.)

43% brand-name claims vs 57% generic, on 638 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.

638
Total Claims
$130K
Total Drug Cost
124
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
1,102
Total Day Supply
31,148
Brand vs Generic
43% brand / 57% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$117K
Generic Drug Cost
$12K
Antibiotic Claims
11

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
76.7 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.16
Gender Split
64% female / 36% male

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Latanoprost
160
Lumigan
Bimatoprost
136
Brimonidine Tartrate
73
Timolol Maleate
71
Alphagan P
Brimonidine Tartrate
25
Brimonidine Tartrate-Timolol
Brimonidine Tartrate/Timolol
17
Dorzolamide-Timolol
Dorzolamide Hcl/Timolol Maleat
16
Ketorolac Tromethamine
13
Simbrinza
Brinzolamide/Brimonidine Tart
12
Restasis
Cyclosporine
11

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

Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician Overview

How BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. fits within the Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician landscape nationally.

242
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician Providers in US
40
States with Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician
266
Avg Claims per Provider

BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s 638 claims are above the specialty average of 266.

Nearby Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician Providers in Colorado

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

Compare Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s specialty?
BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. specializes in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician and practices in BOULDER, Colorado. Credentials: M.D. PH.D..
How much does BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. wrote 638 Medicare Part D claims totaling $130K in drug costs for 124 beneficiaries.
Where is BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. located?
BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. is located at 4745 ARAPAHOE AVE, BOULDER, CO, 80303. Phone: (303) 444-3000.
What is BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s NPI number?
BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1699727172, issued on 05/16/2006.
Does BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s prescribing is 43% brand-name and 57% generic drugs by claim count, with $117K in brand drug costs.
How many Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 242 Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician providers across 40 states in the US. The average Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Specialist Physician provider writes 266 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Latanoprost, Lumigan, Brimonidine Tartrate. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. accept Medicare?
BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 638 Part D claims and 124 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s credentials?
BRIAN NICHOLS, M.D. PH.D.'s NPI is 1699727172 with credentials M.D. PH.D.. 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