2026 NPPES data Optometrist NPI 1144521048 O.D.
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HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.

Optometrist in BIRMINGHAM, Alabama. CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System profile including specialty classification, practice address, and Medicare prescribing data when reported.

Federal data — no proprietary rating. PlainDoctor publishes the actual CMS NPPES and Medicare records — NPI registration, specialty, practice location, and prescribing data — without a composite score or editorial opinion on top. Every field traces to a federal source.
Prescribing volume
123
Medicare Part D claims · 36 beneficiaries · Optometrist avg: 257
Generic prescribing
36%
generic claims · 64% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs

What the federal data shows

HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. filed 123 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Optometrist in BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, prescribing 36% generic.

123
Part D claims, 2023
36%
generic prescribing

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.

HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber

Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023 — across all CMS prescribers nationally

123 35th percentile higher than 35% of 1,370,886 prescribers

0–200: 670,926 prescribers (49%). This entry sits in this band. 200–400: 182,923 prescribers (13%). Above this entry. 400–600: 90,619 prescribers (7%). Above this entry. 600–800: 56,224 prescribers (4%). Above this entry. 800–1,000: 40,919 prescribers (3%). Above this entry. 1,000–1,200: 31,827 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,200–1,400: 26,224 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,400–1,600: 21,710 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,600–1,800: 19,072 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 1,800–2,000: 16,451 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 2,000–2,200: 213,991 prescribers (16%). Above this entry. This provider 0 2K+ every Part D prescriber (claims/yr), bucketed by value

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

What does the federal data show about HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.?

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 11/09/2010

NPI 1144521048

Primary specialty

Optometrist

High-volume

60,463 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

123 52% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 257

Specialty distribution in Alabama

How Optometrist compares to other specialties among Alabama providers

Alabama providers

Optometrist share within Alabama

1. Optometrist42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Optometrist share within Alabama

Specialty board-certification context

Estimated specialty board-certified rate — Optometrist (ABMS / AOA reference)

Quality data not reported
Est. board-certified rate
78%
Optometrist ABMS/AOA estimate

Est. board-certified rate (Optometrist) — ABMS / AOA estimate

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Optometrist) — ABMS / AOA estimate

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).

HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Optometrist provider holding O.D. credentials at 250 STATE FARM PKWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35209, with a listed phone of (205) 943-4600. NPI 1144521048 was issued on 11/09/2010. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what NICHOLS most recently submitted to CMS rather than a vetted directory listing, which is why patients should always confirm the practice is still at this location before scheduling.

Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 123 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 36 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $27K in drug spend, split 64% brand-name and 36% generic by claim count. These figures capture only Medicare Part D — commercial insurance, Medicaid, and cash-pay prescriptions are not included, and any drug-beneficiary cell under 11 is suppressed by CMS for patient privacy.

Optometrist is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 60,463 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 257 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

250 STATE FARM PKWY
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209

Provider Details

NPI 1144521048
Specialty Optometrist
Credentials O.D.
Gender Female
NPI Issued 11/09/2010

Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Brand-heavy

HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. — brand share 64.0%
Specialty average (est.)

64% brand-name claims vs 36% generic, on 123 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.

123
Total Claims
$27K
Total Drug Cost
36
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
161
Total Day Supply
4,220
Brand vs Generic
64% brand / 36% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$25K
Generic Drug Cost
$2K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
73.1 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
0.98
Gender Split
56% female / 44% male

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.

What HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. prescribes most

Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023

claims
Source CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File As of 2023
Drug Claims
Latanoprost
39
Vyzulta
Latanoprostene Bunod
14
Timolol Maleate
11

* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.

Optometrist Overview

How HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. fits within the Optometrist landscape nationally.

60,463
Optometrist Providers in US
56
States with Optometrist
257
Avg Claims per Provider

HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s 123 claims are below the specialty average of 257.

Nearby Optometrist Providers in Alabama

Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Alabama, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as NICHOLS.

Compare Optometrist nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s specialty?
HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. specializes in Optometrist and practices in BIRMINGHAM, Alabama. Credentials: O.D..
How much does HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. wrote 123 Medicare Part D claims totaling $27K in drug costs for 36 beneficiaries.
Where is HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. located?
HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. is located at 250 STATE FARM PKWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35209. Phone: (205) 943-4600.
What is HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s NPI number?
HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1144521048, issued on 11/09/2010.
Does HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s prescribing is 64% brand-name and 36% generic drugs by claim count, with $25K in brand drug costs.
How many Optometrist providers are there in the US?
There are 60,463 Optometrist providers across 56 states in the US. The average Optometrist provider writes 257 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Latanoprost, Vyzulta, Timolol Maleate. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. accept Medicare?
HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 123 Part D claims and 36 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s credentials?
HARTLEY NICHOLS, O.D.'s NPI is 1144521048 with credentials O.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

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