2026 NPPES data Ophthalmology Physician NPI 1851545677 M.D.
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JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.

Ophthalmology Physician in BRISTOL, Tennessee. 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
4K
Medicare Part D claims · 1K beneficiaries · Ophthalmology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
70%
generic claims · 30% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
66.7253/100
▼ 16 pts below national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$446.08
21 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 66.7253/100 — below the 83.1 national average — and filed 4,014 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.

66.7253/100
MIPS score · -16 vs avg
4K
Part D claims, 2023
70%
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.

JOSHUA HICKS, 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

67 7th percentile higher than 7% 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%). This entry sits in this band. 70–80: 118,074 scored providers (25%). Above this entry. 80–90: 129,887 scored providers (27%). Above this entry. 90–100: 189,403 scored providers (40%). Above this entry. 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)

JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. 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).

What does the federal data show about JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.?

Below national average

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 11/06/2008

NPI 1851545677

Primary specialty

Ophthalmology Physician

Mid-sized

22,090 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

4,014 183% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 1,420

MIPS final score

66.7253/100 16.37469999999999% pts

Mid-tier band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in Tennessee

How Ophthalmology Physician compares to other specialties among Tennessee providers

Tennessee providers

Ophthalmology Physician share within Tennessee

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

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Ophthalmology Physician national average

Below national average
MIPS Final Score
66.7253/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 66.7253/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%66.7%
MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 66.7253/100 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).

JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. is a Ophthalmology Physician provider practicing in BRISTOL, Tennessee, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: M.D.. NPI: 1851545677. 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.

JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Ophthalmology Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 3185 W STATE ST, BRISTOL, TN, 37620, with a listed phone of (423) 968-7555. NPI 1851545677 was issued on 11/06/2008. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what HICKS 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 4,014 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 1,067 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $222K in drug spend, split 30% brand-name and 70% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 0.8%. 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 66.7253/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 99.4457, Cost 72.972), 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

3185 W STATE ST
BRISTOL, TN 37620

Provider Details

NPI 1851545677
Specialty Ophthalmology Physician
Credentials M.D.
Gender Male
NPI Issued 11/06/2008

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

66.7253
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
99.4457
Quality
72.972
Cost
0
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Group practice

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where JOSHUA HICKS, 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.

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE EYE PHYSICIANS, P.L.L.C.
MARION, VA

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 JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$446

Largest payer

Bausch & Lomb Americas 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

JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. — brand share 30.0%
Specialty average (est.)

30% brand-name claims vs 70% generic, on 4,014 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.

4,014
Total Claims
$222K
Total Drug Cost
1,067
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
4,759
Total Day Supply
100,135
Brand vs Generic
30% brand / 70% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$142K
Generic Drug Cost
$80K
Opioid Claims
32 (0.8% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
54

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
72.8 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.28
Gender Split
60% female / 40% male
Age Distribution
<65: 116, 65-74: 513, 75-84: 341, 85+: 97

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Moxifloxacin
Moxifloxacin Hcl
815
Prednisolone Acetate
720
Ketorolac Tromethamine
695
Latanoprost
449
Erythromycin
Erythromycin Base
353
Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth
Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Dexametha
217
Timolol Maleate
134
Dorzolamide-Timolol
Dorzolamide Hcl/Timolol Maleat
117
Besivance
Besifloxacin Hcl
71
Brimonidine Tartrate
60

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

Ophthalmology Physician Overview

How JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. 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

JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s 4,014 claims are above the specialty average of 1,420.

Nearby Ophthalmology Physician Providers in Tennessee

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s specialty?
JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. specializes in Ophthalmology Physician and practices in BRISTOL, Tennessee. Credentials: M.D..
How much does JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. wrote 4,014 Medicare Part D claims totaling $222K in drug costs for 1,067 beneficiaries.
What is JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s Medicare quality score?
JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 66.7253/100 (Quality: 99.4457, Cost: 72.972). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. located?
JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. is located at 3185 W STATE ST, BRISTOL, TN, 37620. Phone: (423) 968-7555.
What is JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s NPI number?
JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1851545677, issued on 11/06/2008.
Does JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s prescribing is 30% brand-name and 70% generic drugs by claim count, with $142K in brand drug costs.
Does JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. prescribe opioids?
Yes, JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. had 32 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 0.8%.
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 JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Moxifloxacin, Prednisolone Acetate, Ketorolac Tromethamine. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. accept Medicare?
JOSHUA HICKS, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 4,014 Part D claims and 1,067 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s credentials?
JOSHUA HICKS, M.D.'s NPI is 1851545677 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