NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician NPI 1295948727 M.D.
Verify on CMS → Karl Johsens, M.D.
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician in Santa Cruz, California.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 1,524 in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) 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
4K
Medicare Part D claims · 220 beneficiaries · Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
87%
generic claims · 12% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
75/100
▼ 8 pts below national avg 83.1 · Mid-tier
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
Karl Johsens, M.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 75/100 - below the 83.1 national average - and filed 4,273 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.
- 75/100
- MIPS score · -8 vs avg
- 4K
- Part D claims, 2023
- 87%
- 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.
Karl Johsens, 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
75 12th percentile higher than 12% 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 Karl Johsens, M.D. sits
This provider among hospice and palliative medicine (internal medicine) physician peers
Across the 317 hospice and palliative medicine (internal medicine) physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Karl Johsens, M.D. writes more Part D claims than 93% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 15% - 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 hospice and palliative medicine (internal medicine) physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Karl Johsens, M.D.. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Karl Johsens, M.D. practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + MIPS quality reporting - 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 Karl Johsens, M.D.?
Below national averagePrimary specialty
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician
Medicare Part D claims
4,273 235% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
75/100 8.1 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in California
How Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician compares to other specialties among California providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Karl Johsens, M.D.'s 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 75/100
- vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year
MIPS final score (Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician) - 75/100 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).
Karl Johsens, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 1595 SOQUEL DR STE 340, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065, with a listed phone of (831) 425-1279. NPI 1295948727 was issued on 05/08/2007.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 4,273 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 220 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $456K in drug spend, split 12% brand-name and 87% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 5.8%. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 75/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 71.7, Cost 44.9), compared with the national average of 83.1.
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician is a narrow specialty nationwide, with 1,524 enrolled providers across 51 states and an average of 1,275 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 | 1295948727 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician |
| Credentials | M.D. |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 05/08/2007 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
74.9751
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
71.684
Quality
44.8998
Cost
100
Promoting Interoperability
Reporting: Individual
License & disciplinary context - California MBC 2023 annual report
Aggregate state board data only, NOT a determination of any individual provider's status. The figures below describe statewide disciplinary activity across all ~150K California medical licensees in 2023 - they are NOT specific to Karl Johsens, M.D.. To verify Karl Johsens, M.D.'s current license status, search the MBC public license lookup directly, or check the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) verification service.
576
Total board actions, California 2023
Across 556 cases
3.84
Actions per 1,000 licensees
California statewide rate
probation
Most common action type
186 cases
MBC publishes annual disciplinary statistics as part of public-record reporting under each state's Administrative Procedure Act. See the full breakdown by action type and year on the California disciplinary trends page. Cross-checked against FSMB U.S. Medical Regulatory Trends.
Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Typical
Karl Johsens, M.D. - brand share 12.0%
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician average
12% brand-name claims vs 87% generic, on 4,273 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.
4,273
Total Claims
$456K
Total Drug Cost
220
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 8,941
- Total Day Supply
- 256,748
- Brand vs Generic
- 12% brand / 87% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $316K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $138K
- Opioid Claims
- 246 (5.8% rate)
- Antibiotic Claims
- 162
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 75.0 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.00
- Gender Split
- 40% female / 60% male
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Karl Johsens, M.D. prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Atorvastatin Calcium
Atorvastatin Calcium
221 claims
- Rosuvastatin Calcium
Rosuvastatin Calcium
151 claims
- Losartan Potassium
Losartan Potassium
131 claims
- Amlodipine Besylate
Amlodipine Besylate
105 claims
- Omeprazole
Omeprazole
99 claims
- Tamsulosin Hcl
Tamsulosin Hcl
99 claims
- Levothyroxine Sodium
Levothyroxine Sodium
95 claims
- Escitalopram Oxalate
Escitalopram Oxalate
91 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Atorvastatin Calcium | 221 |
| Rosuvastatin Calcium | 151 |
| Losartan Potassium | 131 |
| Amlodipine Besylate | 105 |
| Omeprazole | 99 |
| Tamsulosin Hcl | 99 |
| Levothyroxine Sodium | 95 |
| Escitalopram Oxalate | 91 |
| Metoprolol Succinate | 91 |
| Lorazepam | 81 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
More Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician in CA →
All providers in California →
Compare specialties →
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician Overview
How Karl Johsens, M.D. fits within the Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician landscape nationally.
1,524
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician Providers in US
51
States with Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician
1,275
Avg Claims per Provider
Karl Johsens, M.D.'s 4,273 claims are above the specialty average of 1,275.
Nearby Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician Providers in California
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in California, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Johsens.
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 California medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Karl Johsens, M.D.'s specialty? ▼
Karl Johsens, M.D. specializes in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician and practices in Santa Cruz, California. Credentials: M.D..
How much does Karl Johsens, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Karl Johsens, M.D. wrote 4,273 Medicare Part D claims totaling $456K in drug costs for 220 beneficiaries.
What is Karl Johsens, M.D.'s Medicare quality score? ▼
Karl Johsens, M.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 75/100 (Quality: 71.7, Cost: 44.9). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Karl Johsens, M.D. located? ▼
Karl Johsens, M.D. is located at 1595 SOQUEL DR STE 340, Santa Cruz, CA, 95065. Phone: (831) 425-1279.
What is Karl Johsens, M.D.'s NPI number? ▼
Karl Johsens, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1295948727, issued on 05/08/2007.
Does Karl Johsens, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Karl Johsens, M.D.'s prescribing is 12% brand-name and 87% generic drugs by claim count, with $316K in brand drug costs.
Does Karl Johsens, M.D. prescribe opioids? ▼
Yes, Karl Johsens, M.D. had 246 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 5.8%.
How many Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 1,524 Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician providers across 51 states in the US. The average Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician provider writes 1,275 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Karl Johsens, M.D. prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Karl Johsens, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Atorvastatin Calcium, Rosuvastatin Calcium, Losartan Potassium. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Karl Johsens, M.D. accept Medicare? ▼
Karl Johsens, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 4,273 Part D claims and 220 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Karl Johsens, M.D.'s credentials? ▼
Karl Johsens, M.D.'s NPI is 1295948727 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
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.