2026 NPPES data Ophthalmology Physician NPI 1124093059 M.D.
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KAREN NIPPER, M.D.

Ophthalmology Physician in WATERBURY, Connecticut. 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
2K
Medicare Part D claims · 587 beneficiaries · Ophthalmology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
67%
generic claims · 33% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
83.2431/100
▲ 0 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$565.69
30 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

KAREN NIPPER, M.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 83.2431/100 — above the 83.1 national average — and filed 1,758 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.

83.2431/100
MIPS score · +0 vs avg
2K
Part D claims, 2023
67%
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.

KAREN NIPPER, 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

83 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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%). This entry sits in this band. 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)

KAREN NIPPER, 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 KAREN NIPPER, M.D.?

Near national average

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 02/22/2006

NPI 1124093059

Primary specialty

Ophthalmology Physician

Mid-sized

22,090 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

1,758 24% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 1,420

MIPS final score

83.2431/100 0.143100000000004% pts

Above neutral band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in Connecticut

How Ophthalmology Physician compares to other specialties among Connecticut providers

Connecticut providers

Ophthalmology Physician share within Connecticut

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

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

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

Near national average
MIPS Final Score
83.2431/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 83.2431/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%83.2%
MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 83.2431/100 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).

KAREN NIPPER, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Ophthalmology Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 87 GRANDVIEW AVE, WATERBURY, CT, 06708, with a listed phone of (203) 574-2020. NPI 1124093059 was issued on 02/22/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what NIPPER 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 1,758 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 587 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $422K in drug spend, split 33% brand-name and 67% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 2.7%. 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 83.2431/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 84.1872), 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

87 GRANDVIEW AVE
WATERBURY, CT 06708

Provider Details

NPI 1124093059
Specialty Ophthalmology Physician
Credentials M.D.
Gender Female
NPI Issued 02/22/2006

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

83.2431
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
84.1872
Quality
65
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Individual

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where KAREN NIPPER, 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.

REFOCUS EYE HEALTH OF CENTRAL CONNECTICUT PC
WATERBURY, CT

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 KAREN NIPPER, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$566

Largest payer

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, 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

KAREN NIPPER, M.D. — brand share 33.0%
Specialty average (est.)

33% brand-name claims vs 67% generic, on 1,758 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.

1,758
Total Claims
$422K
Total Drug Cost
587
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
2,617
Total Day Supply
66,013
Brand vs Generic
33% brand / 67% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$376K
Generic Drug Cost
$46K
Opioid Claims
48 (2.7% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
77

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
75.6 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.32
Gender Split
67% female / 33% male
Age Distribution
<65: 33, 65-74: 243, 75-84: 223, 85+: 88

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

What KAREN NIPPER, 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
Erythromycin
Erythromycin Base
464
Azelastine Hcl
355
Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth
Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Dexametha
185
Restasis
Cyclosporine
124
Xiidra
Lifitegrast
100
Cyclosporine
59
Tobradex
Tobramycin/Dexamethasone
55
Latanoprost
45
Acetaminophen-Codeine
Acetaminophen With Codeine
43
Doxycycline Hyclate
36

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

Ophthalmology Physician Overview

How KAREN NIPPER, 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

KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s 1,758 claims are above the specialty average of 1,420.

Nearby Ophthalmology Physician Providers in Connecticut

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s specialty?
KAREN NIPPER, M.D. specializes in Ophthalmology Physician and practices in WATERBURY, Connecticut. Credentials: M.D..
How much does KAREN NIPPER, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, KAREN NIPPER, M.D. wrote 1,758 Medicare Part D claims totaling $422K in drug costs for 587 beneficiaries.
What is KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s Medicare quality score?
KAREN NIPPER, M.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 83.2431/100 (Quality: 84.1872). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is KAREN NIPPER, M.D. located?
KAREN NIPPER, M.D. is located at 87 GRANDVIEW AVE, WATERBURY, CT, 06708. Phone: (203) 574-2020.
What is KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s NPI number?
KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1124093059, issued on 02/22/2006.
Does KAREN NIPPER, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s prescribing is 33% brand-name and 67% generic drugs by claim count, with $376K in brand drug costs.
Does KAREN NIPPER, M.D. prescribe opioids?
Yes, KAREN NIPPER, M.D. had 48 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 2.7%.
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 KAREN NIPPER, M.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Erythromycin, Azelastine Hcl, Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does KAREN NIPPER, M.D. accept Medicare?
KAREN NIPPER, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 1,758 Part D claims and 587 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s credentials?
KAREN NIPPER, M.D.'s NPI is 1124093059 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