NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Neurology Physician NPI 1285680397 MD
Verify on CMS → Francis Benz, MD
Neurology Physician in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 20,467 in Neurology 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
3K
Medicare Part D claims · 499 beneficiaries · Neurology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
91%
generic claims · 8% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
94.1/100
▲ 11 pts above national avg 83.5 · Exceptional
Industry payments
$1.2K
59 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File, 2024
What the federal data shows
Francis Benz, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 94.1/100 - above the 83.5 national average - and filed 2,997 Medicare Part D claims in 2024.
- 94.1/100
- MIPS score · +11 vs avg
- 3K
- Part D claims, 2024
- 91%
- 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.
Federal trust snapshot
What official records show about Francis Benz, MD
Federal records show an active NPI with both Medicare prescribing volume and a measured CMS quality score — objective registry data, not patient reviews.
- Verified
NPI registry status
Active listing in the CMS National Provider Identifier Registry (NPI 1285680397), first enumerated 05/26/2006.
Source: CMS NPPES
- Reported
Medicare Part D participation
Filed 2,997 Medicare Part D prescription claims in the 2023 CMS public use file — indicates active Medicare prescribing participation.
Source: CMS Part D Prescriber PUF
- Reported
CMS quality reporting (MIPS)
Reported a CMS MIPS final score of 94.1/100 in the Quality Payment Program — a federal quality measure, not a patient review.
Source: CMS Quality Payment Program
- Reported
Board certification signal
Heuristic suggests board-certified status based on ABMS-eligible specialty taxonomy plus active CMS participation signals — not a direct ABMS verification.
- Reported
Hospital affiliations
2 CMS Care Compare hospital affiliations on record — practice footprint from the Doctors and Clinicians file.
Source: CMS Care Compare
- Reported
Industry payment transparency
$1.2K in reported industry payments (59 transfers) in 2024 under the federal Sunshine Act — disclosed transfers of value, not a quality rating.
Source: CMS Open Payments
- Not in federal data
Individual sanction lookup
PlainDoctor does not publish per-provider disciplinary determinations. Confirm current license and any individual actions through the state medical board or FSMB verification service.
Source: State medical board / FSMB
This trust snapshot summarizes only what appears in federal CMS/NPPES public records. It is not a composite score, star rating, patient review, or clinical recommendation. PlainDoctor never fabricates reviews or AggregateRating schema.
CMS NPPES provider registry desk
NPI 1285680397 · Neurology Physician
NPI-10 · ENUM-LEGACY · TAX-MID · MIPS-ELITE · RX-MID · BOOK-THIN · PHOTO-FINISH
- NPI-10 1285680397
- ENUM-LEGACY 2006
- TAX-MID 20K Neurology Physician
- MIPS-ELITE 94.1/100
- RX-MID 2,997
- BOOK-THIN 97 in New Hampshire
- PHOTO-FINISH Margaret Bettin, MD · ±0.0
MIPS final-score neighbourhood
Same-specialty nationwide peers by CMS final score, not geographic proximity
- Benz · this prov…
Benz · this provider
94.1 MIPS pts
- Carl Hoegerl, D.…
Carl Hoegerl, D.O.
94.1 MIPS pts
- Alida Griffith, …
Alida Griffith, MD
94.1 MIPS pts
- Alicia Lumley, M…
Alicia Lumley, MD
94.1 MIPS pts
- Margaret Bettin,…
Margaret Bettin, MD
94.1 MIPS pts
What this shows Nearest measured MIPS peers for this NUCC specialty (2023 performance year).
Francis Benz, MD's MIPS score vs every measured U.S. clinician
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023, the federal quality measure. Clinicians whose score CMS assigned without scoring any category are excluded.
94 ≥ 73rd percentile 73% of 454,083 measured providers are in lower value bands
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more measured 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.
The percentile is a conservative whole-score-point band: it counts only measured clinicians in lower score bands. A CMS MIPS metric is not a recommendation or a clinical-quality rating by PlainDoctor. See methodology § corpus placement.
Source CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) · 2023
Where Francis Benz, MD sits
This provider among neurology physician peers
Across the 5,099 neurology physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Francis Benz, MD writes more Part D claims than 84% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 73% - placing this provider in the high-volume, high-quality quadrant. Volume reflects patient-panel size and specialty, not quality; the two axes are independent.
Each dot is one neurology physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Francis Benz, MD. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Francis Benz, MD practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + MIPS quality reporting + 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 Francis Benz, MD?
High performer (top quartile)Primary specialty
Neurology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
2,997 121% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
94.1/100 10.6 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in New Hampshire
How Neurology Physician compares to other specialties among New Hampshire providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Francis Benz, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Neurology Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 94.1/100
- vs 83.5 national avg · 2023 performance year
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).
Practice Address
Provider Details
| NPI | 1285680397 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Neurology Physician |
| Credentials | MD |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 05/26/2006 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
94.0641
Final Score
Measured-score avg: 83.5
88.1282
Quality
Reporting: Group practice
Hospital and facility affiliations
Facilities where Francis Benz, MD 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.
Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital
★★★☆☆ 3/5
Lebanon, NH
Acute Care Hospitals
CMS CCN: 300003
Carolina Rheumatology And Neurology
Myrtle Beach, SC
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 Francis Benz, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$1.2K
Largest payer
UCB, 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.
Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Generic-heavy
Francis Benz, MD - brand share 8.0%
Neurology Physician average
8% brand-name claims vs 91% generic, on 2,997 2024 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 2024.
2,997
Total Claims
$411K
Total Drug Cost
499
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 6,377.533
- Total Day Supply
- 189,585
- Brand vs Generic
- 8% brand / 91% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $313K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $97K
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 73.8 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.29
- Gender Split
- 57% female / 43% male
- Age Distribution
- <65: 63, 65-74: 168, 75-84: 211, 85+: 57
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2024. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Francis Benz, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2024
- Donepezil Hcl
Donepezil Hcl
365 claims
- Memantine Hcl
Memantine Hcl
300 claims
- Carbidopa-Levodopa
Carbidopa-Levodopa
196 claims
- Topiramate
Topiramate
195 claims
- Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam
179 claims
- Tizanidine Hcl 122
Tizanidine Hcl
122 claims
- Gabapentin 118
Gabapentin
118 claims
- Primidone 104
Primidone
104 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Donepezil Hcl | 365 |
| Memantine Hcl | 300 |
| Carbidopa-Levodopa Carbidopa/Levodopa | 196 |
| Topiramate | 195 |
| Levetiracetam | 179 |
| Tizanidine Hcl | 122 |
| Gabapentin | 118 |
| Primidone | 104 |
| Propranolol Hcl | 88 |
| Sumatriptan Succinate | 77 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Neurology Physician Overview
How Francis Benz, MD fits within the Neurology Physician landscape nationally.
20,467
Neurology Physician Providers in US
54
States with Neurology Physician
1,356
Avg Claims per Provider
Francis Benz, MD's 2,997 claims are above the specialty average of 1,356.
Nationwide Neurology Physician peers with similar MIPS or enrollment year
Two federal-record peer sets for Benz, both outside New Hampshire so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.
Similar MIPS final score
Nearest same-specialty clinicians by CMS MIPS final score (94.1 here).
Same NPPES enumeration year (2006)
Same-specialty clinicians who entered the NPI registry in the same calendar year, outside this state.
Nearby Neurology Physician Providers in New Hampshire
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in New Hampshire, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Benz.
One of 97 Neurology Physician providers enrolled in New Hampshire, 5 are shown here.
Dr. Alexander Auchus
MD
Lebanon, NH
Dr. Donald Ayres
MD
Lebanon, NH
Dr. Saeedeh Azary
M.D., M.P.H.
Nashua, NH
Dr. James Bernat
M.D.
Lebanon, NH
Dr. John Betjemann
MD
Dover, NH
Compare Neurology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Francis Benz, MD's specialty? ▼
Francis Benz, MD specializes in Neurology Physician and practices in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Credentials: MD.
How much does Francis Benz, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2024, Francis Benz, MD wrote 2,997 Medicare Part D claims totaling $411K in drug costs for 499 beneficiaries.
What is Francis Benz, MD's Medicare quality score? ▼
Francis Benz, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 94.1/100 (Quality: 88.1). The average MIPS Final Score across the 454,083 clinicians with at least one published category score is 83.5; clinicians whose score CMS assigned without scoring any category are excluded from that average. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Francis Benz, MD located? ▼
Francis Benz, MD is located at 18 OLD ETNA RD, Lebanon, NH, 03766. Phone: (603) 650-5000.
What is Francis Benz, MD's NPI number? ▼
Francis Benz, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1285680397, issued on 05/26/2006.
Does Francis Benz, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Francis Benz, MD's prescribing is 8% brand-name and 91% generic drugs by claim count, with $313K in brand drug costs.
How many Neurology Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 20,467 Neurology Physician providers across 54 states in the US. The average Neurology Physician provider writes 1,356 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Francis Benz, MD prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2024 Medicare Part D data, Francis Benz, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Donepezil Hcl, Memantine Hcl, Carbidopa-Levodopa. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Francis Benz, MD accept Medicare? ▼
Francis Benz, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 2,997 Part D claims and 499 Medicare beneficiaries in 2024. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Francis Benz, MD's credentials? ▼
Francis Benz, MD's NPI is 1285680397 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 (2024). 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 August 2026 (NPPES) / 2024 (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
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 August 2026.