NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Rheumatology Physician NPI 1225001449 M.D.
Verify on CMS → Gene Watterson, M.D.
Rheumatology Physician in Birmingham, Alabama.
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
713
Medicare Part D claims · 128 beneficiaries · Rheumatology Physician avg: 2K
Generic prescribing
92%
generic claims · 8% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$86.08
5 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
Gene Watterson, M.D. filed 713 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Rheumatology Physician in Birmingham, Alabama, prescribing 92% generic.
- 713
- 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.
Gene Watterson, M.D.'s Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber
Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023, across all CMS prescribers nationally
713 Top 29% higher than 71% 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)
Gene Watterson, M.D. practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + 1 hospital affiliation - 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 Gene Watterson, M.D.?
Quality data not reportedPrimary specialty
Rheumatology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
713 65% vs specialty avg
Specialty distribution in Alabama
How Rheumatology Physician compares to other specialties among Alabama 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).
Gene Watterson, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Rheumatology Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 1801 GADSDEN HWY, Birmingham, AL, 35235, with a listed phone of (205) 838-3900. NPI 1225001449 was issued on 02/08/2006.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 713 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 128 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $239K 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 | 1225001449 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Rheumatology Physician |
| Credentials | M.D. |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 02/08/2006 |
Hospital and facility affiliations
Facilities where Gene Watterson, M.D. 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.
Alabama Orthopedic Spine And Sports Medicine Associates P C
Hoover, AL
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 Gene Watterson, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$86
Largest payer
PFIZER 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
Gene Watterson, M.D. - brand share 8.0%
Rheumatology Physician average
8% brand-name claims vs 92% generic, on 713 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.
713
Total Claims
$239K
Total Drug Cost
128
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 1,026
- Total Day Supply
- 29,304
- Brand vs Generic
- 8% brand / 92% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $219K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $20K
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 70.3 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.33
- Gender Split
- 67% female / 33% male
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Gene Watterson, M.D. prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Prednisone
Prednisone
217 claims
- Hydroxychloroquine… 74
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate
74 claims
- Methotrexate 58
Methotrexate
58 claims
- Citalopram Hbr 57
Citalopram Hbr
57 claims
- Escitalopram Oxalate 33
Escitalopram Oxalate
33 claims
- Allopurinol 31
Allopurinol
31 claims
- Pregabalin 27
Pregabalin
27 claims
- Alendronate Sodium 26
Alendronate Sodium
26 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Prednisone | 217 |
| Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate | 74 |
| Methotrexate Methotrexate Sodium | 58 |
| Citalopram Hbr Citalopram Hydrobromide | 57 |
| Escitalopram Oxalate | 33 |
| Allopurinol | 31 |
| Pregabalin | 27 |
| Alendronate Sodium | 26 |
| Methocarbamol | 22 |
| Colchicine | 20 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Rheumatology Physician Overview
How Gene Watterson, M.D. 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
Gene Watterson, M.D.'s 713 claims are below the specialty average of 2,054.
Nearby Rheumatology Physician Providers in Alabama
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Alabama, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Watterson.
Dr. Joel Abbott
MD
Mountain Brk, AL
Dr. Hamdy Ahmed
MD
Mobile, AL
Dr. Graciela Alarcon
MD
Birmingham, AL
Amanda Alexander
Birmingham, AL
Dr. Zarmeena Ali
MD
Auburn, AL
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 Alabama 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.
Healthcare Guides
Learn more about finding, verifying, and understanding healthcare providers.
How to Find a Doctor
Step-by-step guide to choosing a provider
Verify Credentials
Check NPI, board certification & license status
Medical Specialties Explained
Who treats what and how specialties differ
Understanding Medicare Claims Data
What prescribing data reveals about a provider
In-Network vs Out-of-Network
How insurance networks affect your costs
Telehealth Guide
Virtual care options and coverage in 2026
Explore Alabama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gene Watterson, M.D.'s specialty? ▼
Gene Watterson, M.D. specializes in Rheumatology Physician and practices in Birmingham, Alabama. Credentials: M.D..
How much does Gene Watterson, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Gene Watterson, M.D. wrote 713 Medicare Part D claims totaling $239K in drug costs for 128 beneficiaries.
Where is Gene Watterson, M.D. located? ▼
Gene Watterson, M.D. is located at 1801 GADSDEN HWY, Birmingham, AL, 35235. Phone: (205) 838-3900.
What is Gene Watterson, M.D.'s NPI number? ▼
Gene Watterson, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1225001449, issued on 02/08/2006.
Does Gene Watterson, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Gene Watterson, M.D.'s prescribing is 8% brand-name and 92% generic drugs by claim count, with $219K 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 Gene Watterson, M.D. prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Gene Watterson, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Prednisone, Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate, Methotrexate. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Gene Watterson, M.D. accept Medicare? ▼
Gene Watterson, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 713 Part D claims and 128 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Gene Watterson, M.D.'s credentials? ▼
Gene Watterson, M.D.'s NPI is 1225001449 with credentials M.D.. 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.