NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician NPI 1821071523 MD
Verify on CMS → Charles Edwards, MD
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) 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 5,070 in Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) 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
1K
Medicare Part D claims · 177 beneficiaries · Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician avg: 128
Generic prescribing
93%
generic claims · 7% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
91.9/100
▲ 9 pts above national avg 83.1 · Exceptional
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File, 2023
Compiled from official public sources by the PlainDoctor editorial team.
What the federal data shows
Charles Edwards, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 91.9/100 - above the 83.1 national average - and filed 1,027 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.
- 91.9/100
- MIPS score · +9 vs avg
- 1K
- Part D claims, 2023
- 93%
- 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.
Charles Edwards, MD's MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023, the federal quality measure
92 Top 37% higher than 63% 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 Charles Edwards, MD sits
This provider among thoracic surgery (cardiothoracic vascular surgery) physician peers
Across the 820 thoracic surgery (cardiothoracic vascular surgery) physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Charles Edwards, MD writes more Part D claims than 99% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 63% - 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 thoracic surgery (cardiothoracic vascular surgery) physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Charles Edwards, MD. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Charles Edwards, 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 Charles Edwards, MD?
High performer (top quartile)Primary specialty
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician
Medicare Part D claims
1,027 8× vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
91.9/100 8.8 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in North Carolina
How Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician compares to other specialties among North Carolina providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Charles Edwards, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 91.9/100
- vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year
MIPS final score (Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician) - 91.9/100 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).
Charles Edwards, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician provider holding MD credentials at 411 BILLINGSLEY RD STE 103, Charlotte, NC, 28211, with a listed phone of (704) 577-3186. NPI 1821071523 was issued on 11/28/2005.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 1,027 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 177 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $192K in drug spend, split 7% brand-name and 93% generic by claim count. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 91.9/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 92.1, Cost 83.5), compared with the national average of 83.1.
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 5,070 enrolled providers across 52 states and an average of 128 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 | 1821071523 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician |
| Credentials | MD |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 11/28/2005 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
91.8831
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
92.1138
Quality
83.4586
Cost
Reporting: Group practice
Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Generic-heavy
Charles Edwards, MD - brand share 7.0%
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician average
7% brand-name claims vs 93% generic, on 1,027 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.
1,027
Total Claims
$192K
Total Drug Cost
177
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 1,633
- Total Day Supply
- 47,432
- Brand vs Generic
- 7% brand / 93% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $160K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $32K
- Antibiotic Claims
- 11
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 80.6 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.36
- Gender Split
- 54% female / 46% male
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Charles Edwards, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Sertraline Hcl
Sertraline Hcl
236 claims
- Donepezil Hcl
Donepezil Hcl
109 claims
- Trazodone Hcl
Trazodone Hcl
104 claims
- Escitalopram Oxalate 75
Escitalopram Oxalate
75 claims
- Memantine Hcl 74
Memantine Hcl
74 claims
- Quetiapine Fumarate 52
Quetiapine Fumarate
52 claims
- Mirtazapine 48
Mirtazapine
48 claims
- Nuplazid 28
Nuplazid
28 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Sertraline Hcl | 236 |
| Donepezil Hcl | 109 |
| Trazodone Hcl | 104 |
| Escitalopram Oxalate | 75 |
| Memantine Hcl | 74 |
| Quetiapine Fumarate | 52 |
| Mirtazapine | 48 |
| Nuplazid Pimavanserin Tartrate | 28 |
| Duloxetine Hcl | 17 |
| Rivastigmine | 15 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
More Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician in NC →
All providers in North Carolina →
Compare specialties →
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician Overview
How Charles Edwards, MD fits within the Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician landscape nationally.
5,070
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician Providers in US
52
States with Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician
128
Avg Claims per Provider
Charles Edwards, MD's 1,027 claims are above the specialty average of 128.
Nearby Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician Providers in North Carolina
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in North Carolina, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Edwards.
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 Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) 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 Charles Edwards, MD's specialty? ▼
Charles Edwards, MD specializes in Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician and practices in Charlotte, North Carolina. Credentials: MD.
How much does Charles Edwards, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Charles Edwards, MD wrote 1,027 Medicare Part D claims totaling $192K in drug costs for 177 beneficiaries.
What is Charles Edwards, MD's Medicare quality score? ▼
Charles Edwards, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 91.9/100 (Quality: 92.1, Cost: 83.5). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Charles Edwards, MD located? ▼
Charles Edwards, MD is located at 411 BILLINGSLEY RD STE 103, Charlotte, NC, 28211. Phone: (704) 577-3186.
What is Charles Edwards, MD's NPI number? ▼
Charles Edwards, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1821071523, issued on 11/28/2005.
Does Charles Edwards, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Charles Edwards, MD's prescribing is 7% brand-name and 93% generic drugs by claim count, with $160K in brand drug costs.
How many Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 5,070 Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician providers across 52 states in the US. The average Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician provider writes 128 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Charles Edwards, MD prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Charles Edwards, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Sertraline Hcl, Donepezil Hcl, Trazodone Hcl. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Charles Edwards, MD accept Medicare? ▼
Charles Edwards, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 1,027 Part D claims and 177 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Charles Edwards, MD's credentials? ▼
Charles Edwards, MD's NPI is 1821071523 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.
Every figure on PlainDoctor is rendered directly from the federal CMS NPPES registry, Medicare Part D, MIPS, and Open Payments records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2026.