NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Orthopaedic Surgery Physician NPI 1982624128 MD
Verify on CMS → Mark Howard, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery Physician in Monterey, 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 25,775 in Orthopaedic Surgery 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
212
Medicare Part D claims · 56 beneficiaries · Orthopaedic Surgery Physician avg: 324
MIPS score
30/100
▼ 53 pts below national avg 83.1 · Below average
Industry payments
$211.89
2 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
Compiled from official public sources by the PlainDoctor editorial team.
What the federal data shows
Mark Howard, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 30/100 - below the 83.1 national average - and filed 212 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.
- 30/100
- MIPS score · -53 vs avg
- 212
- Part D claims, 2023
- 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.
Mark Howard, MD's MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023, the federal quality measure
30 3rd percentile higher than 3% 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 Mark Howard, MD sits
This provider among orthopaedic surgery physician peers
Across the 8,194 orthopaedic surgery physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Mark Howard, MD writes more Part D claims than 45% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 5% - placing this provider in the lower-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 orthopaedic surgery physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Mark Howard, MD. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Mark Howard, MD 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 Mark Howard, MD?
Below national averagePrimary specialty
Orthopaedic Surgery Physician
Medicare Part D claims
212 35% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
30/100 53.1 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in California
How Orthopaedic Surgery Physician compares to other specialties among California providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Mark Howard, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Orthopaedic Surgery Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 30/100
- vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year
MIPS final score (Orthopaedic Surgery Physician) - 30/100 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).
Mark Howard, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as an Orthopaedic Surgery Physician provider holding MD credentials at 12 UPPER RAGSDALE DR, Monterey, CA, 93940, with a listed phone of (831) 648-7200. NPI 1982624128 was issued on 07/20/2006.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 212 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 56 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $3K in drug spend, with an opioid prescribing rate of 28.3%. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 30/100 for the 2023 performance year, compared with the national average of 83.1.
Orthopaedic Surgery Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 25,775 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 324 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 | 1982624128 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Orthopaedic Surgery Physician |
| Credentials | MD |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 07/20/2006 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
30
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
100
Cost
0
Promoting Interoperability
Reporting: Individual
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 Mark Howard, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$212
Largest payer
Medtronic, 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.
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 Mark Howard, MD. To verify Mark Howard, MD'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.
Medicare Part D Prescribing Data
CMS Medicare Part D prescriber-level data for calendar year 2023.
212
Total Claims
$3K
Total Drug Cost
56
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 212
- Total Day Supply
- 3,495
- Generic Drug Cost
- $3K
- Opioid Claims
- 60 (28.3% rate)
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 72.6 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.15
- Gender Split
- 63% female / 38% male
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Mark Howard, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Oxycodone Hcl
Oxycodone Hcl
25 claims
- Hydrocodone-Acetam…
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
19 claims
- Duloxetine Hcl
Duloxetine Hcl
17 claims
- Diazepam
Diazepam
16 claims
- Methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone
15 claims
- Tramadol Hcl
Tramadol Hcl
14 claims
- Amlodipine Besylate
Amlodipine Besylate
13 claims
- Famotidine
Famotidine
13 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Oxycodone Hcl | 25 |
| Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen | 19 |
| Duloxetine Hcl | 17 |
| Diazepam | 16 |
| Methylprednisolone | 15 |
| Tramadol Hcl | 14 |
| Amlodipine Besylate | 13 |
| Famotidine | 13 |
| Memantine Hcl | 13 |
| Triamterene-Hydrochlorothiazid Triamterene/Hydrochlorothiazid | 13 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Orthopaedic Surgery Physician Overview
How Mark Howard, MD fits within the Orthopaedic Surgery Physician landscape nationally.
25,775
Orthopaedic Surgery Physician Providers in US
56
States with Orthopaedic Surgery Physician
324
Avg Claims per Provider
Mark Howard, MD's 212 claims are below the specialty average of 324.
Nearby Orthopaedic Surgery Physician Providers in California
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in California, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Howard.
Dr. Karim Abdollahi
M.D.
Laguna Beach, CA
Dr. Douglas Abeles
MD
Castro Valley, CA
Dr. Anthony Abene
MD
San Jose, CA
Dr. Nicholas Abidi
MD
Capitola, CA
Dr. Joshua Acebo
MD
Palo Alto, CA
Compare Orthopaedic Surgery 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 California medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Orthopaedic Surgery 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 California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mark Howard, MD's specialty? ▼
Mark Howard, MD specializes in Orthopaedic Surgery Physician and practices in Monterey, California. Credentials: MD.
How much does Mark Howard, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Mark Howard, MD wrote 212 Medicare Part D claims totaling $3K in drug costs for 56 beneficiaries.
What is Mark Howard, MD's Medicare quality score? ▼
Mark Howard, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 30/100, Cost: 100. The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Mark Howard, MD located? ▼
Mark Howard, MD is located at 12 UPPER RAGSDALE DR, Monterey, CA, 93940. Phone: (831) 648-7200.
What is Mark Howard, MD's NPI number? ▼
Mark Howard, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1982624128, issued on 07/20/2006.
Does Mark Howard, MD prescribe opioids? ▼
Yes, Mark Howard, MD had 60 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 28.3%.
How many Orthopaedic Surgery Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 25,775 Orthopaedic Surgery Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Orthopaedic Surgery Physician provider writes 324 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Mark Howard, MD prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Mark Howard, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Oxycodone Hcl, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Duloxetine Hcl. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Mark Howard, MD accept Medicare? ▼
Mark Howard, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 212 Part D claims and 56 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Mark Howard, MD's credentials? ▼
Mark Howard, MD's NPI is 1982624128 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.
Every figure on PlainDoctor is rendered directly from the federal CMS NPPES registry, Medicare Part D, MIPS, and Open Payments records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2026.