2026 NPPES data Ophthalmology Physician NPI 1518296045 M.D.
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LAUREN CASTON, M.D.

Ophthalmology Physician in WALNUT CREEK, California. 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
104
Medicare Part D claims · 58 beneficiaries · Ophthalmology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
84%
generic claims · 16% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs

What the federal data shows

LAUREN CASTON, M.D. filed 104 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Ophthalmology Physician in WALNUT CREEK, California, prescribing 84% generic.

104
Part D claims, 2023
84%
generic prescribing

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.

LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber

Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023 — across all CMS prescribers nationally

104 35th percentile higher than 35% of 1,370,886 prescribers

0–200: 670,926 prescribers (49%). This entry sits in this band. 200–400: 182,923 prescribers (13%). Above this entry. 400–600: 90,619 prescribers (7%). Above this entry. 600–800: 56,224 prescribers (4%). Above this entry. 800–1,000: 40,919 prescribers (3%). Above this entry. 1,000–1,200: 31,827 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,200–1,400: 26,224 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,400–1,600: 21,710 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,600–1,800: 19,072 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 1,800–2,000: 16,451 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 2,000–2,200: 213,991 prescribers (16%). Above this entry. This provider 0 2K+ every Part D prescriber (claims/yr), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more prescribers. 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 Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File · 2023

Board-eligible specialty (heuristic — not verified)

LAUREN CASTON, M.D. practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty but we don't have enough CMS-participation signals to confirm active board-certified status. Consult CertificationMatters.org (the official ABMS public lookup).

What does the federal data show about LAUREN CASTON, M.D.?

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 12/11/2009

NPI 1518296045

Primary specialty

Ophthalmology Physician

Mid-sized

22,090 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

104 93% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 1,420

Specialty distribution in California

How Ophthalmology Physician compares to other specialties among California providers

California providers

Ophthalmology Physician share within California

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

Specialty board-certification context

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

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

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

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

LAUREN CASTON, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Ophthalmology Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 320 LENNON LANE, SHASTA BUILDING, WALNUT CREEK, CA, 94598, with a listed phone of (925) 906-2010. NPI 1518296045 was issued on 12/11/2009. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what CASTON 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 104 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 58 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $4K in drug spend, split 16% brand-name and 84% 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.

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

320 LENNON LANE, SHASTA BUILDING
WALNUT CREEK, CA 94598

Provider Details

NPI 1518296045
Specialty Ophthalmology Physician
Credentials M.D.
Gender Female
NPI Issued 12/11/2009

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 LAUREN CASTON, M.D.. To verify LAUREN CASTON, 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

LAUREN CASTON, M.D. — brand share 16.0%
Specialty average (est.)

16% brand-name claims vs 84% generic, on 104 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.

104
Total Claims
$4K
Total Drug Cost
58
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
234
Total Day Supply
6,666
Brand vs Generic
16% brand / 84% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$3K
Generic Drug Cost
$1K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
74.9 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
0.84
Gender Split
59% female / 41% 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
Latanoprost
35
Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth
Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Dexametha
14

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

Ophthalmology Physician Overview

How LAUREN CASTON, 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

LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s 104 claims are below the specialty average of 1,420.

Nearby Ophthalmology Physician Providers in California

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s specialty?
LAUREN CASTON, M.D. specializes in Ophthalmology Physician and practices in WALNUT CREEK, California. Credentials: M.D..
How much does LAUREN CASTON, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, LAUREN CASTON, M.D. wrote 104 Medicare Part D claims totaling $4K in drug costs for 58 beneficiaries.
Where is LAUREN CASTON, M.D. located?
LAUREN CASTON, M.D. is located at 320 LENNON LANE, SHASTA BUILDING, WALNUT CREEK, CA, 94598. Phone: (925) 906-2010.
What is LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s NPI number?
LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1518296045, issued on 12/11/2009.
Does LAUREN CASTON, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s prescribing is 16% brand-name and 84% generic drugs by claim count, with $3K in brand drug costs.
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 LAUREN CASTON, M.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Latanoprost, Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does LAUREN CASTON, M.D. accept Medicare?
LAUREN CASTON, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 104 Part D claims and 58 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s credentials?
LAUREN CASTON, M.D.'s NPI is 1518296045 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.
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