2026 NPPES data Nephrology Physician NPI 1275524761 MD
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KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD

Nephrology Physician in THORNTON, Colorado. 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
788
Medicare Part D claims · 126 beneficiaries · Nephrology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
81%
generic claims · 19% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
What the federal data reveals: KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD is a Nephrology Physician ([object Object]) practicing in THORNTON, Colorado with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 788 claims across 126 beneficiaries — 19% brand-name prescribing .

What stands out: KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD filed 788 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 across THORNTON, Colorado. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

KAREN LOCHHEAD, 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).

KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD at a glance

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 11/02/2005

NPI 1275524761

Primary specialty

Nephrology Physician

Mid-sized

10,534 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

788 46% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 1,454

Specialty distribution in Colorado

How Nephrology Physician compares to other specialties among Colorado providers

Colorado providers

Nephrology Physician share within Colorado

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

Specialty board-certification context

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

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

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

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Nephrology 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).

KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD is a Nephrology Physician provider practicing in THORNTON, Colorado, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1275524761. 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.

KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Nephrology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 9195 GRANT ST STE 225, THORNTON, CO, 80229, with a listed phone of (720) 536-2460. NPI 1275524761 was issued on 11/02/2005. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what LOCHHEAD 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 788 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 126 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $187K 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.

Nephrology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 10,534 enrolled providers across 55 states and an average of 1,454 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

9195 GRANT ST STE 225
THORNTON, CO 80229

Provider Details

NPI 1275524761
Specialty Nephrology Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Female
NPI Issued 11/02/2005

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where KAREN LOCHHEAD, 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.

DENVER NEPHROLOGISTS PC
THORNTON, CO

Affiliations sourced from CMS Doctors and Clinicians National Downloadable File; hospital ratings from CMS Hospital General Information dataset (cross-referenced by facility name + state).

Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Typical

KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD — brand share 19.0%
Specialty average (est.)

19% brand-name claims vs 81% generic, on 788 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.

788
Total Claims
$187K
Total Drug Cost
126
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
2,045
Total Day Supply
60,549
Brand vs Generic
19% brand / 81% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$155K
Generic Drug Cost
$32K
Antibiotic Claims
11

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
72.3 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
3.53
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.

Drug Claims
Amlodipine Besylate
81
Furosemide
76
Jardiance
Empagliflozin
72
Losartan Potassium
52
Lisinopril
34
Carvedilol
29
Allopurinol
28
Tamsulosin Hcl
25
Prednisone
24
Potassium Chloride
21

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

Nephrology Physician Overview

How KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD fits within the Nephrology Physician landscape nationally.

10,534
Nephrology Physician Providers in US
55
States with Nephrology Physician
1,454
Avg Claims per Provider

KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's 788 claims are below the specialty average of 1,454.

Nearby Nephrology Physician Providers in Colorado

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's specialty?
KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD specializes in Nephrology Physician and practices in THORNTON, Colorado. Credentials: MD.
How much does KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD wrote 788 Medicare Part D claims totaling $187K in drug costs for 126 beneficiaries.
Where is KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD located?
KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD is located at 9195 GRANT ST STE 225, THORNTON, CO, 80229. Phone: (720) 536-2460.
What is KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's NPI number?
KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1275524761, issued on 11/02/2005.
Does KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's prescribing is 19% brand-name and 81% generic drugs by claim count, with $155K in brand drug costs.
How many Nephrology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 10,534 Nephrology Physician providers across 55 states in the US. The average Nephrology Physician provider writes 1,454 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Amlodipine Besylate, Furosemide, Jardiance. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD accept Medicare?
KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 788 Part D claims and 126 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's credentials?
KAREN LOCHHEAD, MD's NPI is 1275524761 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