2026 NPPES data Family Medicine Physician NPI 1720130255 M.D.
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MONICA HOWARD, M.D.

Family Medicine Physician in GERMANTOWN, Maryland. 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
5K
Medicare Part D claims · 409 beneficiaries · Family Medicine Physician avg: 3K
Generic prescribing
92%
generic claims · 8% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
84.1202/100
▲ 1 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$40
2 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

MONICA HOWARD, M.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 84.1202/100 — above the 83.1 national average — and filed 4,507 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.

84.1202/100
MIPS score · +1 vs avg
5K
Part D claims, 2023
92%
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.

MONICA HOWARD, 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

84 45th percentile higher than 45% 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)

MONICA HOWARD, M.D. practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + MIPS quality reporting + 2 hospital affiliations — 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 MONICA HOWARD, M.D.?

Near national average

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 01/17/2007

NPI 1720130255

Primary specialty

Family Medicine Physician

High-volume

147,640 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

4,507 32% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 3,418

MIPS final score

84.1202/100 1.0202000000000027% pts

Above neutral band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in Maryland

How Family Medicine Physician compares to other specialties among Maryland providers

Maryland providers

Family Medicine Physician share within Maryland

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

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Family Medicine Physician national average

Near national average
MIPS Final Score
84.1202/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Family Medicine Physician) — 84.1202/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%84.1%
MIPS final score (Family Medicine Physician) — 84.1202/100 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).

MONICA HOWARD, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Family Medicine Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 19851 OBSERVATION DR STE 205, GERMANTOWN, MD, 20876, with a listed phone of (301) 972-0400. NPI 1720130255 was issued on 01/17/2007. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what HOWARD 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 4,507 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 409 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $423K in drug spend, split 8% brand-name and 92% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 3.4%. 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 84.1202/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 100, Cost 66.2341), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Family Medicine Physician is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 147,640 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 3,418 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

19851 OBSERVATION DR STE 205
GERMANTOWN, MD 20876

Provider Details

NPI 1720130255
Specialty Family Medicine Physician
Credentials M.D.
Gender Female
NPI Issued 01/17/2007

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

84.1202
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
100
Quality
66.2341
Cost
77
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Individual

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where MONICA HOWARD, 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.

FAMILY HEALTHCARE, P.C.
GERMANTOWN, MD
MONTGOMERY COUNTY LANGUAGE MINORITY HEALTH PROJECT INC.
SILVER SPRING, MD

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 MONICA HOWARD, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$40

Largest payer

Novo Nordisk 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

MONICA HOWARD, M.D. — brand share 8.0%
Specialty average (est.)

8% brand-name claims vs 92% generic, on 4,507 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.

4,507
Total Claims
$423K
Total Drug Cost
409
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
10,611
Total Day Supply
310,312
Brand vs Generic
8% brand / 92% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$305K
Generic Drug Cost
$118K
Opioid Claims
152 (3.4% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
108

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
73.5 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
0.84
Gender Split
80% female / 20% male
Age Distribution
<65: 21, 65-74: 215, 75-84: 135, 85+: 38

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

What MONICA HOWARD, 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
Amlodipine Besylate
274
Atorvastatin Calcium
216
Rosuvastatin Calcium
177
Losartan Potassium
145
Levothyroxine Sodium
137
Alprazolam
131
Metoprolol Succinate
128
Hydrochlorothiazide
115
Lisinopril
114
Zolpidem Tartrate
112

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

Family Medicine Physician Overview

How MONICA HOWARD, M.D. fits within the Family Medicine Physician landscape nationally.

147,640
Family Medicine Physician Providers in US
56
States with Family Medicine Physician
3,418
Avg Claims per Provider

MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s 4,507 claims are above the specialty average of 3,418.

Nearby Family Medicine Physician Providers in Maryland

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

Compare Family Medicine Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s specialty?
MONICA HOWARD, M.D. specializes in Family Medicine Physician and practices in GERMANTOWN, Maryland. Credentials: M.D..
How much does MONICA HOWARD, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, MONICA HOWARD, M.D. wrote 4,507 Medicare Part D claims totaling $423K in drug costs for 409 beneficiaries.
What is MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s Medicare quality score?
MONICA HOWARD, M.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 84.1202/100 (Quality: 100, Cost: 66.2341). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is MONICA HOWARD, M.D. located?
MONICA HOWARD, M.D. is located at 19851 OBSERVATION DR STE 205, GERMANTOWN, MD, 20876. Phone: (301) 972-0400.
What is MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s NPI number?
MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1720130255, issued on 01/17/2007.
Does MONICA HOWARD, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s prescribing is 8% brand-name and 92% generic drugs by claim count, with $305K in brand drug costs.
Does MONICA HOWARD, M.D. prescribe opioids?
Yes, MONICA HOWARD, M.D. had 152 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 3.4%.
How many Family Medicine Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 147,640 Family Medicine Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Family Medicine Physician provider writes 3,418 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does MONICA HOWARD, M.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Amlodipine Besylate, Atorvastatin Calcium, Rosuvastatin Calcium. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does MONICA HOWARD, M.D. accept Medicare?
MONICA HOWARD, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 4,507 Part D claims and 409 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s credentials?
MONICA HOWARD, M.D.'s NPI is 1720130255 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