2026 NPPES data Ophthalmology Physician NPI 1033110119 MD
Verify on CMS →

JAMES HOWARD, MD

Ophthalmology Physician in SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. 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
385
Medicare Part D claims · 131 beneficiaries · Ophthalmology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
68%
generic claims · 32% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
100/100
▲ 17 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$7.9K
22 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
What the federal data reveals: JAMES HOWARD, MD is a Ophthalmology Physician ([object Object]) practicing in SALT LAKE CITY, Utah with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 385 claims across 131 beneficiaries — 32% brand-name prescribing . Their CMS MIPS Final Score of 100/100 (national average: 83.1) reflects performance across Quality, Cost, Interoperability, and Improvement Activities . Industry payments of $7.9K across 22 transactions are disclosed under CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act).

What stands out: JAMES HOWARD, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 100 out of 100, above the 83.1 national average, and filed 385 Medicare Part D claims in 2023. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

JAMES HOWARD, MD practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + MIPS quality reporting + 1 hospital affiliation — signals consistent with board-certified status. For verified board certification, see CertificationMatters.org (the official ABMS public lookup).

JAMES HOWARD, MD at a glance

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 08/10/2005

NPI 1033110119

Primary specialty

Ophthalmology Physician

Mid-sized

22,090 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

385 73% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 1,420

MIPS final score

100/100 16.900000000000006% pts

Exceptional band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in Utah

How Ophthalmology Physician compares to other specialties among Utah providers

Utah providers

Ophthalmology Physician share within Utah

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

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

JAMES HOWARD, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Ophthalmology Physician national average

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
100/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 100/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%99%
MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 100/100 vs national avg 83.1

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).

JAMES HOWARD, MD is a Ophthalmology Physician provider practicing in SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1033110119. 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.

JAMES HOWARD, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Ophthalmology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 5169 COTTONWOOD ST STE 630, SALT LAKE CITY, UT, 84107, with a listed phone of (801) 312-2020. NPI 1033110119 was issued on 08/10/2005. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what HOWARD 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 385 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 131 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $21K in drug spend, split 32% brand-name and 68% 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. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 100/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 100), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Ophthalmology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 22,090 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 1,420 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

5169 COTTONWOOD ST STE 630
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84107

Provider Details

NPI 1033110119
Specialty Ophthalmology Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 08/10/2005

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.

100
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
100
Quality

Reporting: Group practice

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where JAMES HOWARD, 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.

RETINA ASSOCIATES OF UTAH PC
MURRAY, UT

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 JAMES HOWARD, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$7.9K

Largest payer

Genentech USA, 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 · Above average

JAMES HOWARD, MD — brand share 32.0%
Specialty average (est.)

32% brand-name claims vs 68% generic, on 385 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.

385
Total Claims
$21K
Total Drug Cost
131
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
570
Total Day Supply
15,136
Brand vs Generic
32% brand / 68% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$13K
Generic Drug Cost
$9K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
74.5 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.45
Gender Split
53% female / 47% male

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Prednisolone Acetate
110
Ofloxacin
46
Latanoprost
43
Moxifloxacin
Moxifloxacin Hcl
34
Ketorolac Tromethamine
33
Timolol Maleate
31
Dorzolamide-Timolol
Dorzolamide Hcl/Timolol Maleat
21
Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth
Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Dexametha
18

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

Ophthalmology Physician Overview

How JAMES HOWARD, MD fits within the Ophthalmology Physician landscape nationally.

22,090
Ophthalmology Physician Providers in US
56
States with Ophthalmology Physician
1,420
Avg Claims per Provider

JAMES HOWARD, MD's 385 claims are below the specialty average of 1,420.

Nearby Ophthalmology Physician Providers in Utah

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is JAMES HOWARD, MD's specialty?
JAMES HOWARD, MD specializes in Ophthalmology Physician and practices in SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. Credentials: MD.
How much does JAMES HOWARD, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, JAMES HOWARD, MD wrote 385 Medicare Part D claims totaling $21K in drug costs for 131 beneficiaries.
What is JAMES HOWARD, MD's Medicare quality score?
JAMES HOWARD, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 100/100 (Quality: 100). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is JAMES HOWARD, MD located?
JAMES HOWARD, MD is located at 5169 COTTONWOOD ST STE 630, SALT LAKE CITY, UT, 84107. Phone: (801) 312-2020.
What is JAMES HOWARD, MD's NPI number?
JAMES HOWARD, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1033110119, issued on 08/10/2005.
Does JAMES HOWARD, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
JAMES HOWARD, MD's prescribing is 32% brand-name and 68% generic drugs by claim count, with $13K in brand drug costs.
How many Ophthalmology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 22,090 Ophthalmology Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Ophthalmology Physician provider writes 1,420 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does JAMES HOWARD, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, JAMES HOWARD, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Prednisolone Acetate, Ofloxacin, Latanoprost. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does JAMES HOWARD, MD accept Medicare?
JAMES HOWARD, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 385 Part D claims and 131 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify JAMES HOWARD, MD's credentials?
JAMES HOWARD, MD's NPI is 1033110119 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.
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 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