2026 NPPES data Optometrist NPI 1881684678 O.D.
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NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.

Optometrist in ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico. 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
314
Medicare Part D claims · 127 beneficiaries · Optometrist avg: 257
Generic prescribing
32%
generic claims · 68% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
96.75/100
▲ 14 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$31.08
2 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 96.75/100 — above the 83.1 national average — and filed 314 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.

96.75/100
MIPS score · +14 vs avg
314
Part D claims, 2023
32%
generic prescribing
$31.08
industry payments (Sunshine Act)

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.

NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician

CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023 — the federal quality measure

97 Top 17% higher than 83% 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%). Below this entry. 90–100: 189,403 scored providers (40%). This entry sits in this band. 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

What does the federal data show about NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.?

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 10/24/2005

NPI 1881684678

Primary specialty

Optometrist

High-volume

60,463 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

314 22% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 257

MIPS final score

96.75/100 13.650000000000006% pts

Exceptional band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in New Mexico

How Optometrist compares to other specialties among New Mexico providers

New Mexico providers

Optometrist share within New Mexico

1. Optometrist42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Optometrist share within New Mexico

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Optometrist national average

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
96.75/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Optometrist) — 96.75/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%96.8%
MIPS final score (Optometrist) — 96.75/100 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).

NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Optometrist provider holding O.D. credentials at 5200 EUBANK BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87111, with a listed phone of (505) 298-4419. NPI 1881684678 was issued on 10/24/2005. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what RITZ 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 314 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 127 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $144K in drug spend, split 68% brand-name and 32% 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. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 96.75/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 100, Cost 100), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Optometrist is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 60,463 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 257 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

5200 EUBANK BLVD NE
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87111

Provider Details

NPI 1881684678
Specialty Optometrist
Credentials O.D.
Gender Male
NPI Issued 10/24/2005

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

96.75
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
100
Quality
100
Cost
87
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Group practice

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where NICHOLAS RITZ, O.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.

EYE ASSOCIATES OF NEW MEXICO LTD
SANTA FE, NM

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 NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$31

Largest payer

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, 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 · Brand-heavy

NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. — brand share 68.0%
Specialty average (est.)

68% brand-name claims vs 32% generic, on 314 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.

314
Total Claims
$144K
Total Drug Cost
127
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
497
Total Day Supply
13,870
Brand vs Generic
68% brand / 32% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$141K
Generic Drug Cost
$3K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
73.4 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
0.91
Gender Split
79% female / 21% male

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

What NICHOLAS RITZ, O.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
Restasis
Cyclosporine
79
Cyclosporine
60
Latanoprost
49
Fluorometholone
21
Xiidra
Lifitegrast
18
Prednisolone Acetate
11

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

Optometrist Overview

How NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. fits within the Optometrist landscape nationally.

60,463
Optometrist Providers in US
56
States with Optometrist
257
Avg Claims per Provider

NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s 314 claims are above the specialty average of 257.

Nearby Optometrist Providers in New Mexico

Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in New Mexico, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as RITZ.

Compare Optometrist nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s specialty?
NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. specializes in Optometrist and practices in ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico. Credentials: O.D..
How much does NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. wrote 314 Medicare Part D claims totaling $144K in drug costs for 127 beneficiaries.
What is NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s Medicare quality score?
NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 96.75/100 (Quality: 100, Cost: 100). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. located?
NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. is located at 5200 EUBANK BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87111. Phone: (505) 298-4419.
What is NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s NPI number?
NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1881684678, issued on 10/24/2005.
Does NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s prescribing is 68% brand-name and 32% generic drugs by claim count, with $141K in brand drug costs.
How many Optometrist providers are there in the US?
There are 60,463 Optometrist providers across 56 states in the US. The average Optometrist provider writes 257 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Restasis, Cyclosporine, Latanoprost. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. accept Medicare?
NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 314 Part D claims and 127 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s credentials?
NICHOLAS RITZ, O.D.'s NPI is 1881684678 with credentials O.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