2026 NPPES data Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician NPI 1710951942 M.D.
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JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.

Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician in HAZARD, Kentucky. 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
346
Medicare Part D claims · 66 beneficiaries · Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician avg: 128
Generic prescribing
92%
generic claims · 8% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
90.4844/100
▲ 7 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$253.6
15 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 90.4844/100 — above the 83.1 national average — and filed 346 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.

90.4844/100
MIPS score · +7 vs avg
346
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.

JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician

CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023 — the federal quality measure

90 Top 40% higher than 60% of 477,587 scored providers

0–10: 8,684 scored providers (2%). Below this entry. 10–20: 3,008 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 20–30: 3,069 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 30–40: 2,746 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 40–50: 2,928 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 50–60: 5,882 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 60–70: 13,906 scored providers (3%). Below this entry. 70–80: 118,074 scored providers (25%). Below this entry. 80–90: 129,887 scored providers (27%). Below this entry. 90–100: 189,403 scored providers (40%). This entry sits in this band. This provider 0 100 every MIPS-scored clinician, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more scored 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.

Source CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) · 2023

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. 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 JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.?

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 02/15/2006

NPI 1710951942

Primary specialty

Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician

Mid-sized

5,062 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

346 170% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 128

MIPS final score

90.4844/100 7.384399999999999% pts

Exceptional band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in Kentucky

How Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician compares to other specialties among Kentucky providers

Kentucky providers

Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician share within Kentucky

1. Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician share within Kentucky

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician national average

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
90.4844/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician) — 90.4844/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%90.5%
MIPS final score (Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician) — 90.4844/100 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 SHOPTAW, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 210 BLACK GOLD BLVD, HAZARD, KY, 41701, with a listed phone of (606) 487-7000. NPI 1710951942 was issued on 02/15/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what SHOPTAW 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 346 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 66 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $19K in drug spend, split 8% brand-name and 92% 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 90.4844/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 74.5039), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 5,062 enrolled providers across 52 states and an average of 128 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

210 BLACK GOLD BLVD
HAZARD, KY 41701

Provider Details

NPI 1710951942
Specialty Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician
Credentials M.D.
Gender Male
NPI Issued 02/15/2006

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

90.4844
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
74.5039
Quality
95.748
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Alternative Payment Model

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where JAMES SHOPTAW, 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.

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE INC
HAZARD, KY
ARH TUG VALLEY HEALTH SERVICES INC
PRESTONSBURG, KY

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 SHOPTAW, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$254

Largest payer

Boston Scientific 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 · Generic-heavy

JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. — brand share 8.0%
Specialty average (est.)

8% brand-name claims vs 92% generic, on 346 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.

346
Total Claims
$19K
Total Drug Cost
66
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
501
Total Day Supply
13,845
Brand vs Generic
8% brand / 92% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$16K
Generic Drug Cost
$3K
Antibiotic Claims
18

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
70.5 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.81
Gender Split
29% female / 71% male

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

What JAMES SHOPTAW, M.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
Clopidogrel
Clopidogrel Bisulfate
91
Metoprolol Tartrate
62
Pantoprazole Sodium
41
Atorvastatin Calcium
35
Eliquis
Apixaban
11

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

Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician Overview

How JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. fits within the Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician landscape nationally.

5,062
Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician Providers in US
52
States with Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician
128
Avg Claims per Provider

JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s 346 claims are above the specialty average of 128.

Nearby Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician Providers in Kentucky

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

Compare Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s specialty?
JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. specializes in Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician and practices in HAZARD, Kentucky. Credentials: M.D..
How much does JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. wrote 346 Medicare Part D claims totaling $19K in drug costs for 66 beneficiaries.
What is JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s Medicare quality score?
JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 90.4844/100 (Quality: 74.5039). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. located?
JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. is located at 210 BLACK GOLD BLVD, HAZARD, KY, 41701. Phone: (606) 487-7000.
What is JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s NPI number?
JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1710951942, issued on 02/15/2006.
Does JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s prescribing is 8% brand-name and 92% generic drugs by claim count, with $16K in brand drug costs.
How many Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 5,062 Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician providers across 52 states in the US. The average Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) Physician provider writes 128 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Clopidogrel, Metoprolol Tartrate, Pantoprazole Sodium. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. accept Medicare?
JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 346 Part D claims and 66 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s credentials?
JAMES SHOPTAW, M.D.'s NPI is 1710951942 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

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