NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Surgical Physician Assistant NPI 1306155957 PHYSICAN ASSISTANT
Verify on CMS → Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT
Surgical Physician Assistant in Lakewood, Colorado.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 16,119 in Surgical Physician Assistant, 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
130
Medicare Part D claims · 41 beneficiaries · Surgical Physician Assistant avg: 316
Generic prescribing
82%
generic claims · 18% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
88.2/100
▲ 5 pts above national avg 83.1 · Above neutral
Industry payments
$2.6K
15 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
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
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT reported a CMS MIPS final score of 88.2/100 - above the 83.1 national average - and filed 130 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.
- 88.2/100
- MIPS score · +5 vs avg
- 130
- Part D claims, 2023
- 82%
- generic prescribing
- $2.6K
- industry payments (Sunshine Act)
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.
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023, the federal quality measure
88 Top 44% higher than 56% 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 Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT sits
This provider among surgical physician assistant peers
Across the 3,708 surgical physician assistant providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT writes more Part D claims than 47% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 55% - placing this provider in the lower-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 surgical physician assistant peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
What does the federal data show about Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT?
High performer (top quartile)Primary specialty
Surgical Physician Assistant
Medicare Part D claims
130 59% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
88.2/100 5.1 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in Colorado
How Surgical Physician Assistant compares to other specialties among Colorado providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Surgical Physician Assistant national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 88.2/100
- vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year
MIPS final score (Surgical Physician Assistant) - 88.2/100 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).
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Surgical Physician Assistant provider holding PHYSICAN ASSISTANT credentials at 11700 W 2ND PL, Lakewood, CO, 80228, with a listed phone of (720) 321-8680. NPI 1306155957 was issued on 09/30/2010.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 130 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 41 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $12K in drug spend, split 18% brand-name and 82% generic by claim count. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 88.2/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 89), compared with the national average of 83.1.
Surgical Physician Assistant is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 16,119 enrolled providers across 54 states and an average of 316 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 | 1306155957 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Surgical Physician Assistant |
| Credentials | PHYSICAN ASSISTANT |
| Gender | Female |
| NPI Issued | 09/30/2010 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
88.2296
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
88.9629
Quality
81
Promoting Interoperability
Reporting: Group practice
Hospital and facility affiliations
Facilities where Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT 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.
Catholic Health Initiatives Colorado
Lakewood, 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).
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 Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$2.6K
Largest payer
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
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 · Typical
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT - brand share 18.0%
Surgical Physician Assistant average
18% brand-name claims vs 82% generic, on 130 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.
130
Total Claims
$12K
Total Drug Cost
41
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 223
- Total Day Supply
- 5,990
- Brand vs Generic
- 18% brand / 82% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $11K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $2K
- Antibiotic Claims
- 15
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 80.8 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.92
- Gender Split
- 41% female / 59% 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 |
|---|---|
| Clopidogrel Clopidogrel Bisulfate | 32 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Surgical Physician Assistant Overview
How Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT fits within the Surgical Physician Assistant landscape nationally.
16,119
Surgical Physician Assistant Providers in US
54
States with Surgical Physician Assistant
316
Avg Claims per Provider
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's 130 claims are below the specialty average of 316.
Nearby Surgical Physician Assistant Providers in Colorado
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Colorado, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Birchem.
Dr. Daniel Adams
PA-C
Aurora, CO
Dr. Nathan Adams
PA-C
Thornton, CO
Dr. Tara Adams
MSPAS, PA-C
Boulder, CO
Addison Adzema
Aspen, CO
Dr. Martin Aguilar
PA-C
Parker, CO
Compare Surgical Physician Assistant 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 Colorado medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Surgical Physician Assistant 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 Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's specialty? ▼
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT specializes in Surgical Physician Assistant and practices in Lakewood, Colorado. Credentials: PHYSICAN ASSISTANT.
How much does Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT wrote 130 Medicare Part D claims totaling $12K in drug costs for 41 beneficiaries.
What is Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's Medicare quality score? ▼
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 88.2/100 (Quality: 89). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT located? ▼
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT is located at 11700 W 2ND PL, Lakewood, CO, 80228. Phone: (720) 321-8680.
What is Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's NPI number? ▼
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1306155957, issued on 09/30/2010.
Does Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's prescribing is 18% brand-name and 82% generic drugs by claim count, with $11K in brand drug costs.
How many Surgical Physician Assistant providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 16,119 Surgical Physician Assistant providers across 54 states in the US. The average Surgical Physician Assistant provider writes 316 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's most frequently prescribed drugs include Clopidogrel. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT accept Medicare? ▼
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT appears in CMS Medicare data with 130 Part D claims and 41 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's credentials? ▼
Christine Birchem, PHYSICAN ASSISTANT's NPI is 1306155957 with credentials PHYSICAN ASSISTANT. 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.