NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Neurology Physician NPI 1861981938 MD
Verify on CMS → Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD
Neurology Physician in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 19,866 in Neurology Physician, and covers specialty classification, practice address, and Medicare Part D prescribing data when reported. According to CMS, every field reflects the provider's official federal registration, see our methodology.
Federal data, no proprietary rating.
We show these CMS records as-is - no composite score, no star rating, no editorial opinion layered on top.
Prescribing volume
1K
Medicare Part D claims · 186 beneficiaries · Neurology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
90%
generic claims · 7% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
76.7/100
▼ 6 pts below national avg 83.1 · Above neutral
Industry payments
$1.8K
8 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File, 2023
Compiled from official public sources by the PlainDoctor editorial team.
What the federal data shows
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 76.7/100 - below the 83.1 national average - and filed 1,254 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.
- 76.7/100
- MIPS score · -6 vs avg
- 1K
- Part D claims, 2023
- 90%
- 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.
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023, the federal quality measure
77 21st percentile higher than 21% of 477,587 scored providers
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
Where Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD sits
This provider among neurology physician peers
Across the 5,437 neurology physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD writes more Part D claims than 55% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 29% - placing this provider in the high-volume, lower-quality quadrant. Volume reflects patient-panel size and specialty, not quality; the two axes are independent.
Part D claim volume vs MIPS quality, by specialty percentile
Each dot is one neurology physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, 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).
What does the federal data show about Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD?
Below national averagePrimary specialty
Neurology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
1,254 4% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
76.7/100 6.4 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in South Dakota
How Neurology Physician compares to other specialties among South Dakota providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Neurology Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 76.7/100
- vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year
MIPS final score (Neurology Physician) - 76.7/100 vs national avg 83.1
How MIPS and board certification work
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).
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Neurology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 1210 W 18TH ST STE 100, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, with a listed phone of (605) 312-8500. NPI 1861981938 was issued on 05/04/2018.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 1,254 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 186 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $144K in drug spend, split 7% brand-name and 90% generic by claim count. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 76.7/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 78.6, Cost 44.6), compared with the national average of 83.1.
Neurology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 19,866 enrolled providers across 54 states and an average of 1,309 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
Provider Details
| NPI | 1861981938 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Neurology Physician |
| Credentials | MD |
| Gender | Female |
| NPI Issued | 05/04/2018 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
76.6912
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
78.5693
Quality
44.5681
Cost
99
Promoting Interoperability
Reporting: Group practice
Hospital and facility affiliations
Facilities where Karina Gonzalez Otarula, 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.
Sanford Medical Center
Sioux Falls, SD
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 Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$1.8K
Largest payer
LivaNova 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 · Generic-heavy
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD - brand share 7.0%
Neurology Physician average
7% brand-name claims vs 90% generic, on 1,254 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.
1,254
Total Claims
$144K
Total Drug Cost
186
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 1,690
- Total Day Supply
- 47,777
- Brand vs Generic
- 7% brand / 90% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $80K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $62K
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 63.6 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.36
- Gender Split
- 60% female / 40% male
- Age Distribution
- <65: 74, 65-74: 63, 75-84: N/A, 85+: N/A
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam
223 claims
- Lamotrigine
Lamotrigine
146 claims
- Lacosamide
Lacosamide
103 claims
- Donepezil Hcl 83
Donepezil Hcl
83 claims
- Memantine Hcl 64
Memantine Hcl
64 claims
- Topiramate 60
Topiramate
60 claims
- Clonazepam 39
Clonazepam
39 claims
- Carbamazepine Er 37
Carbamazepine Er
37 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Levetiracetam | 223 |
| Lamotrigine | 146 |
| Lacosamide | 103 |
| Donepezil Hcl | 83 |
| Memantine Hcl | 64 |
| Topiramate | 60 |
| Clonazepam | 39 |
| Carbamazepine Er Carbamazepine | 37 |
| Gabapentin | 37 |
| Phenobarbital | 37 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Neurology Physician Overview
How Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD fits within the Neurology Physician landscape nationally.
19,866
Neurology Physician Providers in US
54
States with Neurology Physician
1,309
Avg Claims per Provider
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's 1,254 claims are below the specialty average of 1,309.
Nearby Neurology Physician Providers in South Dakota
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in South Dakota, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Gonzalez Otarula.
Dr. William Andrews
MD
Yankton, SD
Dr. Arsalan Anwar
M.D.
Sioux Falls, SD
Dr. Michael Bergan
M.D.
Sioux Falls, SD
Dr. Jeffrey Boyle
MD/PHD
Sioux Falls, SD
Dr. Douglas Brown
MD
Rapid City, SD
Compare Neurology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →
Before you book an appointment
Use this federal record as your verification checklist, not as a recommendation.
- Confirm the NPI record is current in the official CMS registry, providers update their own NPPES details, and moves can lag. Verify this NPI
- Check the active license and any disciplinary history with the South Dakota medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Neurology Physician peer on Medicare volume and prescribing patterns. Compare providers
Medicare Part D and MIPS figures describe practice patterns in federal programs only, they are not quality ratings, and PlainDoctor does not rate, rank, or recommend providers.
Healthcare Guides
Learn more about finding, verifying, and understanding healthcare providers.
How to Find a Doctor
Step-by-step guide to choosing a provider
Verify Credentials
Check NPI, board certification & license status
Medical Specialties Explained
Who treats what and how specialties differ
Understanding Medicare Claims Data
What prescribing data reveals about a provider
In-Network vs Out-of-Network
How insurance networks affect your costs
Telehealth Guide
Virtual care options and coverage in 2026
Explore South Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's specialty? ▼
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD specializes in Neurology Physician and practices in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Credentials: MD.
How much does Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD wrote 1,254 Medicare Part D claims totaling $144K in drug costs for 186 beneficiaries.
What is Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's Medicare quality score? ▼
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 76.7/100 (Quality: 78.6, Cost: 44.6). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD located? ▼
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD is located at 1210 W 18TH ST STE 100, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104. Phone: (605) 312-8500.
What is Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's NPI number? ▼
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1861981938, issued on 05/04/2018.
Does Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's prescribing is 7% brand-name and 90% generic drugs by claim count, with $80K in brand drug costs.
How many Neurology Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 19,866 Neurology Physician providers across 54 states in the US. The average Neurology Physician provider writes 1,309 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Levetiracetam, Lamotrigine, Lacosamide. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD accept Medicare? ▼
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 1,254 Part D claims and 186 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's credentials? ▼
Karina Gonzalez Otarula, MD's NPI is 1861981938 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
View source datasets and methodology notes
- 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
Compiled from official public sources by the PlainDoctor editorial team.