NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Rheumatology Physician NPI 1639887771 MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM
Verify on CMS → Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM
Rheumatology Physician in Lutz, Florida.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 6,181 in Rheumatology 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
359
Medicare Part D claims · 99 beneficiaries · Rheumatology Physician avg: 2K
Generic prescribing
92%
generic claims · 8% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$3.7K
169 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
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM filed 359 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Rheumatology Physician in Lutz, Florida, prescribing 92% generic.
- 359
- Part D claims, 2023
- 92%
- 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.
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber
Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023, across all CMS prescribers nationally
359 Top 43% higher than 57% of 1,370,886 prescribers
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more prescribers. 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 Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File · 2023
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM 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).
What does the federal data show about Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM?
Quality data not reportedPrimary specialty
Rheumatology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
359 83% vs specialty avg
Specialty distribution in Florida
How Rheumatology Physician compares to other specialties among Florida providers
Board certification
Not published by CMS
CMS does not publish a per-provider board-certification field in NPPES. PlainDoctor does not have a reliable per-specialty certification rate to show for Rheumatology Physician. Verify directly:
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).
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Rheumatology Physician provider holding MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM credentials at 2965 PEARSON JAMES PLACE, Lutz, FL, 33559, with a listed phone of (813) 214-5420. NPI 1639887771 was issued on 11/08/2022.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 359 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 99 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $90K in drug spend, split 8% brand-name and 92% generic by claim count.
Rheumatology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 6,181 enrolled providers across 52 states and an average of 2,054 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 | 1639887771 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Rheumatology Physician |
| Credentials | MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 11/08/2022 |
Hospital and facility affiliations
Facilities where Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM 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.
American Arthritis And Rheumatology Associates LLC
Lutz, FL
Arthritis Center Inc
Palm Harbor, FL
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 Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$3.7K
Largest payer
ABBVIE 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.
License & disciplinary context - Florida FLDOH 2023 annual report
Aggregate state board data only, NOT a determination of any individual provider's status. The figures below describe statewide disciplinary activity across all ~75K Florida medical licensees in 2023 - they are NOT specific to Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM. To verify Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's current license status, search the FLDOH public license lookup directly, or check the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) verification service.
480
Total board actions, Florida 2023
Across 467 cases
6.40
Actions per 1,000 licensees
Florida statewide rate
monetary fine
Most common action type
138 cases
FLDOH publishes annual disciplinary statistics as part of public-record reporting under each state's Administrative Procedure Act. See the full breakdown by action type and year on the Florida disciplinary trends page. Cross-checked against FSMB U.S. Medical Regulatory Trends.
Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Generic-heavy
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM - brand share 8.0%
Rheumatology Physician average
8% brand-name claims vs 92% generic, on 359 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.
359
Total Claims
$90K
Total Drug Cost
99
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 717
- Total Day Supply
- 20,550
- Brand vs Generic
- 8% brand / 92% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $79K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $11K
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 72.9 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.44
- Gender Split
- 82% female / 18% male
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Prednisone
Prednisone
57 claims
- Methotrexate
Methotrexate
54 claims
- Alendronate Sodium
Alendronate Sodium
49 claims
- Hydroxychloroquine…
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate
47 claims
- Leflunomide 17
Leflunomide
17 claims
- Meloxicam 16
Meloxicam
16 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Prednisone | 57 |
| Methotrexate Methotrexate Sodium | 54 |
| Alendronate Sodium | 49 |
| Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate | 47 |
| Leflunomide | 17 |
| Meloxicam | 16 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Rheumatology Physician Overview
How Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM fits within the Rheumatology Physician landscape nationally.
6,181
Rheumatology Physician Providers in US
52
States with Rheumatology Physician
2,054
Avg Claims per Provider
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's 359 claims are below the specialty average of 2,054.
Nearby Rheumatology Physician Providers in Florida
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Florida, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Klaus.
Dr. Mohamed Aboyoussef
M.D.
Merritt Island, FL
Dr. Andy Abril
MD
Jacksonville, FL
Dr. Hasan Abualula
MD
Summerfield, FL
Sewar Abuarqob
Gainesville, FL
Dr. Mayra Acosta
MD
Miami, FL
Compare Rheumatology 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 Florida medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Rheumatology 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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Medical Specialties Explained
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Understanding Medicare Claims Data
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's specialty? ▼
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM specializes in Rheumatology Physician and practices in Lutz, Florida. Credentials: MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM.
How much does Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM wrote 359 Medicare Part D claims totaling $90K in drug costs for 99 beneficiaries.
Where is Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM located? ▼
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM is located at 2965 PEARSON JAMES PLACE, Lutz, FL, 33559. Phone: (813) 214-5420.
What is Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's NPI number? ▼
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1639887771, issued on 11/08/2022.
Does Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's prescribing is 8% brand-name and 92% generic drugs by claim count, with $79K in brand drug costs.
How many Rheumatology Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 6,181 Rheumatology Physician providers across 52 states in the US. The average Rheumatology Physician provider writes 2,054 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's most frequently prescribed drugs include Prednisone, Methotrexate, Alendronate Sodium. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM accept Medicare? ▼
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM appears in CMS Medicare data with 359 Part D claims and 99 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's credentials? ▼
Ernst Klaus, MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM's NPI is 1639887771 with credentials MB.CHB., FRCPC RHEUM. 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.
- 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.