NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician NPI 1780666172 MD
Verify on CMS → Bruce Darden, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 1,773 in Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician, and covers specialty classification, practice address, and Medicare Part D prescribing data when reported. According to CMS, every field reflects the provider's official federal registration, see our methodology.
Federal data, no proprietary rating.
We show these CMS records as-is - no composite score, no star rating, no editorial opinion layered on top.
Prescribing volume
802
Medicare Part D claims · 244 beneficiaries · Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician avg: 362
MIPS score
95.4/100
▲ 12 pts above national avg 83.1 · Exceptional
Industry payments
$307.66
2 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
Compiled from official public sources by the PlainDoctor editorial team.
What the federal data shows
Bruce Darden, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 95.4/100 - above the 83.1 national average - and filed 802 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.
- 95.4/100
- MIPS score · +12 vs avg
- 802
- Part D claims, 2023
- 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.
Bruce Darden, MD's MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023, the federal quality measure
95 Top 21% higher than 79% of 477,587 scored providers
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more scored providers. 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 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) · 2023
Where Bruce Darden, MD sits
This provider among orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician peers
Across the 649 orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Bruce Darden, MD writes more Part D claims than 85% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 88% - placing this provider in the high-volume, high-quality quadrant. Volume reflects patient-panel size and specialty, not quality; the two axes are independent.
Part D claim volume vs MIPS quality, by specialty percentile
Each dot is one orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Bruce Darden, MD. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
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).
What does the federal data show about Bruce Darden, MD?
High performer (top quartile)Primary specialty
Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician
Medicare Part D claims
802 122% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
95.4/100 12.3 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in North Carolina
How Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician compares to other specialties among North Carolina providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Bruce Darden, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 95.4/100
- vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year
MIPS final score (Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician) - 95.4/100 vs national avg 83.1
How MIPS and board certification work
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 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.
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%. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 95.4/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 84.2), 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
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.
What Bruce Darden, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Meloxicam
Meloxicam
161 claims
- Tramadol Hcl
Tramadol Hcl
135 claims
- Gabapentin
Gabapentin
107 claims
- Tizanidine Hcl
Tizanidine Hcl
88 claims
- Hydrocodone-Acetam… 61
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
61 claims
- Methylprednisolone 54
Methylprednisolone
54 claims
- Oxycodone Hcl 38
Oxycodone Hcl
38 claims
- Diclofenac Sodium 30
Diclofenac Sodium
30 claims
| 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.
More Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician in NC →
All providers in North Carolina →
Compare specialties →
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.
Dr. Dion Arthur
MD
Hamlet, NC
Dr. Dahari Brooks
M.D.
Greensboro, NC
Dr. Daniel Cavanaugh
MD
Chapel Hill, NC
Dr. Samuel Chewning
M.D.
Charlotte, NC
Dr. Olumide Danisa
MD
Durham, NC
Compare Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →
Before you book an appointment
Use this federal record as your verification checklist, not as a recommendation.
- Confirm the NPI record is current in the official CMS registry, providers update their own NPPES details, and moves can lag. Verify this NPI
- Check the active license and any disciplinary history with the North Carolina medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician peer on Medicare volume and prescribing patterns. Compare providers
Medicare Part D and MIPS figures describe practice patterns in federal programs only, they are not quality ratings, and PlainDoctor does not rate, rank, or recommend providers.
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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 95.4/100 (Quality: 84.2). 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
View source datasets and methodology notes
- 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
Compiled from official public sources by the PlainDoctor editorial team.