2026 NPPES data Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician NPI 1780666172 MD
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BRUCE DARDEN, MD

Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician in CHARLOTTE, 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
802
Medicare Part D claims · 244 beneficiaries · Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician avg: 362
MIPS score
95.3578/100
▲ 12 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$307.66
2 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
What the federal data reveals: BRUCE DARDEN, MD is a Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician ([object Object]) practicing in CHARLOTTE, North Carolina with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 802 claims across 244 beneficiaries . Their CMS MIPS Final Score of 95.3578/100 (national average: 83.1) reflects performance across Quality, Cost, Interoperability, and Improvement Activities . Industry payments of $307.66 across 2 transactions are disclosed under CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act).

What stands out: BRUCE DARDEN, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 95.3578 out of 100, above the 83.1 national average, and filed 802 Medicare Part D claims in 2023. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

BRUCE DARDEN, MD practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + MIPS quality reporting — signals consistent with board-certified status. For verified board certification, see CertificationMatters.org (the official ABMS public lookup).

BRUCE DARDEN, MD at a glance

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 11/19/2005

NPI 1780666172

Primary specialty

Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician

Niche

1,773 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

802 122% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 362

MIPS final score

95.3578/100 12.257800000000003% pts

Exceptional band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in North Carolina

How Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician compares to other specialties among North Carolina providers

North Carolina providers

Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician share within North Carolina

1. Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician share within North Carolina

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

BRUCE DARDEN, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician national average

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
95.3578/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician) — 95.3578/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%95.4%
MIPS final score (Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician) — 95.3578/100 vs national avg 83.1

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).

BRUCE DARDEN, MD is a Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician provider practicing in CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1780666172. 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.

BRUCE DARDEN, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician provider holding MD credentials at 2001 RANDOLPH RD, CHARLOTTE, NC, 28207, with a listed phone of (704) 323-2000. NPI 1780666172 was issued on 11/19/2005. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what DARDEN 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 802 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 244 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $7K in drug spend, with an opioid prescribing rate of 29.7%. 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. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 95.3578/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 84.2235), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician is a narrow specialty nationwide, with 1,773 enrolled providers across 51 states and an average of 362 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

2001 RANDOLPH RD
CHARLOTTE, NC 28207

Provider Details

NPI 1780666172
Specialty Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 11/19/2005

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.

95.3578
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
84.2235
Quality
100
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Alternative Payment Model

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 BRUCE DARDEN, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$308

Largest payer

Globus Medical, 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.

Medicare Part D Prescribing Data

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

802
Total Claims
$7K
Total Drug Cost
244
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
905
Total Day Supply
18,490
Generic Drug Cost
$7K
Opioid Claims
238 (29.7% rate)

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
73.6 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.15
Gender Split
59% female / 41% male
Age Distribution
<65: 14, 65-74: 118, 75-84: 96, 85+: 16

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Meloxicam
161
Tramadol Hcl
135
Gabapentin
107
Tizanidine Hcl
88
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen
61
Methylprednisolone
54
Oxycodone Hcl
38
Diclofenac Sodium
30
Diazepam
17
Cyclobenzaprine Hcl
14

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

Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician Overview

How BRUCE DARDEN, MD fits within the Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician landscape nationally.

1,773
Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician Providers in US
51
States with Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician
362
Avg Claims per Provider

BRUCE DARDEN, MD's 802 claims are above the specialty average of 362.

Nearby Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician Providers in North Carolina

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

Compare Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BRUCE DARDEN, MD's specialty?
BRUCE DARDEN, MD specializes in Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician and practices in CHARLOTTE, North Carolina. Credentials: MD.
How much does BRUCE DARDEN, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, BRUCE DARDEN, MD wrote 802 Medicare Part D claims totaling $7K in drug costs for 244 beneficiaries.
What is BRUCE DARDEN, MD's Medicare quality score?
BRUCE DARDEN, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 95.3578/100 (Quality: 84.2235). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is BRUCE DARDEN, MD located?
BRUCE DARDEN, MD is located at 2001 RANDOLPH RD, CHARLOTTE, NC, 28207. Phone: (704) 323-2000.
What is BRUCE DARDEN, MD's NPI number?
BRUCE DARDEN, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1780666172, issued on 11/19/2005.
Does BRUCE DARDEN, MD prescribe opioids?
Yes, BRUCE DARDEN, MD had 238 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 29.7%.
How many Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 1,773 Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician providers across 51 states in the US. The average Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician provider writes 362 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does BRUCE DARDEN, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, BRUCE DARDEN, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Meloxicam, Tramadol Hcl, Gabapentin. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does BRUCE DARDEN, MD accept Medicare?
BRUCE DARDEN, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 802 Part D claims and 244 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify BRUCE DARDEN, MD's credentials?
BRUCE DARDEN, MD's NPI is 1780666172 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.
Quality Performance
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) — 2023 performance year.
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