2026 NPPES data Dermatology Physician NPI 1457553661 MD
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HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD

Dermatology Physician in DULUTH, Minnesota. 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
1K
Medicare Part D claims · 502 beneficiaries · Dermatology Physician avg: 729
Generic prescribing
81%
generic claims · 19% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$51.84
3 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD filed 1,259 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Dermatology Physician in DULUTH, Minnesota, prescribing 81% generic.

1K
Part D claims, 2023
81%
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.

HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber

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

1,259 Top 22% higher than 78% of 1,370,886 prescribers

0–200: 670,926 prescribers (49%). Below this entry. 200–400: 182,923 prescribers (13%). Below this entry. 400–600: 90,619 prescribers (7%). Below this entry. 600–800: 56,224 prescribers (4%). Below this entry. 800–1,000: 40,919 prescribers (3%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,200: 31,827 prescribers (2%). Below this entry. 1,200–1,400: 26,224 prescribers (2%). This entry sits in this band. 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

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD 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 HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD?

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 06/01/2007

NPI 1457553661

Primary specialty

Dermatology Physician

Mid-sized

14,610 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

1,259 73% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 729

Specialty distribution in Minnesota

How Dermatology Physician compares to other specialties among Minnesota providers

Minnesota providers

Dermatology Physician share within Minnesota

1. Dermatology Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Dermatology Physician share within Minnesota

Specialty board-certification context

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

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

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

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Dermatology Physician) — 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).

HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD is a Dermatology Physician provider practicing in DULUTH, Minnesota, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1457553661. This profile includes practice location, specialty classification, and organizational affiliations from the CMS provider registry. Provider information is self-reported to CMS and updated monthly.

HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Dermatology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 920 E 1ST ST, DULUTH, MN, 55805, with a listed phone of (218) 249-7930. NPI 1457553661 was issued on 06/01/2007. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what BUCHHOLZ 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 1,259 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 502 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $1.8 million in drug spend, split 19% brand-name and 81% 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.

Dermatology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 14,610 enrolled providers across 53 states and an average of 729 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

920 E 1ST ST
DULUTH, MN 55805

Provider Details

NPI 1457553661
Specialty Dermatology Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Female
NPI Issued 06/01/2007

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, 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.

ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF DULUTH
DULUTH, MN

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 HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$52

Largest payer

Novartis Pharmaceuticals 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

HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD — brand share 19.0%
Specialty average (est.)

19% brand-name claims vs 81% generic, on 1,259 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.

1,259
Total Claims
$1.8M
Total Drug Cost
502
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
1,569
Total Day Supply
39,331
Brand vs Generic
19% brand / 81% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$1.7M
Generic Drug Cost
$47K
Antibiotic Claims
41

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
72.9 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
0.98
Gender Split
59% female / 41% male
Age Distribution
<65: 40, 65-74: 256, 75-84: 164, 85+: 42

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Ketoconazole
234
Triamcinolone Acetonide
121
Nystatin
119
Clobetasol Propionate
98
Valacyclovir
Valacyclovir Hcl
55
Dupixent Pen
Dupilumab
35
Betamethasone Dipropionate
33
Hydrocortisone
31
Otezla
Apremilast
30
Taltz Autoinjector
Ixekizumab
28

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

Dermatology Physician Overview

How HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD fits within the Dermatology Physician landscape nationally.

14,610
Dermatology Physician Providers in US
53
States with Dermatology Physician
729
Avg Claims per Provider

HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's 1,259 claims are above the specialty average of 729.

Nearby Dermatology Physician Providers in Minnesota

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

Compare Dermatology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's specialty?
HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD specializes in Dermatology Physician and practices in DULUTH, Minnesota. Credentials: MD.
How much does HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD wrote 1,259 Medicare Part D claims totaling $1.8M in drug costs for 502 beneficiaries.
Where is HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD located?
HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD is located at 920 E 1ST ST, DULUTH, MN, 55805. Phone: (218) 249-7930.
What is HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's NPI number?
HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1457553661, issued on 06/01/2007.
Does HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's prescribing is 19% brand-name and 81% generic drugs by claim count, with $1.7M in brand drug costs.
How many Dermatology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 14,610 Dermatology Physician providers across 53 states in the US. The average Dermatology Physician provider writes 729 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Ketoconazole, Triamcinolone Acetonide, Nystatin. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD accept Medicare?
HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 1,259 Part D claims and 502 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's credentials?
HEATHER BUCHHOLZ, MD's NPI is 1457553661 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

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