2026 NPPES data Optometrist NPI 1730315730 O.D.
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NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.

Optometrist in HELENA, Montana. 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
500
Medicare Part D claims · 136 beneficiaries · Optometrist avg: 257
Generic prescribing
39%
generic claims · 61% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
92.6051/100
▲ 10 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$158.29
2 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
What the federal data reveals: NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. is a Optometrist ([object Object]) practicing in HELENA, Montana with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 500 claims across 136 beneficiaries — 61% brand-name prescribing . Their CMS MIPS Final Score of 92.6051/100 (national average: 83.1) reflects performance across Quality, Cost, Interoperability, and Improvement Activities . Industry payments of $158.29 across 2 transactions are disclosed under CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act).

What stands out: NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 92.6051 out of 100, above the 83.1 national average, and filed 500 Medicare Part D claims in 2023. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. at a glance

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 06/04/2009

NPI 1730315730

Primary specialty

Optometrist

High-volume

60,463 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

500 95% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 257

MIPS final score

92.6051/100 9.505099999999999% pts

Exceptional band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in Montana

How Optometrist compares to other specialties among Montana providers

Montana providers

Optometrist share within Montana

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

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

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

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
92.6051/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Optometrist) — 92.6051/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%92.6%
MIPS final score (Optometrist) — 92.6051/100 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).

NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. is a Optometrist provider practicing in HELENA, Montana, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: O.D.. NPI: 1730315730. This profile includes practice location, specialty classification, and organizational affiliations from the CMS provider registry. Provider information is self-reported to CMS and updated monthly.

NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Optometrist provider holding O.D. credentials at 3116 SADDLE DR STE 3, HELENA, MT, 59601, with a listed phone of (406) 541-3937. NPI 1730315730 was issued on 06/04/2009. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what RIOUX 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 500 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 136 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $121K in drug spend, split 61% brand-name and 39% 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 92.6051/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 100, Cost 80.3504), 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

3116 SADDLE DR STE 3
HELENA, MT 59601

Provider Details

NPI 1730315730
Specialty Optometrist
Credentials O.D.
Gender Female
NPI Issued 06/04/2009

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

92.6051
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
100
Quality
80.3504
Cost
94
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Group practice

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where NICHOLE RIOUX, 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.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN EYE CENTER PC
MISSOULA, MT

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 NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$158

Largest payer

Astellas Pharma US 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

NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. — brand share 61.0%
Specialty average (est.)

61% brand-name claims vs 39% generic, on 500 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.

500
Total Claims
$121K
Total Drug Cost
136
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
1,036
Total Day Supply
29,831
Brand vs Generic
61% brand / 39% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$109K
Generic Drug Cost
$12K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
76.7 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
0.96
Gender Split
52% female / 48% 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
203
Timolol Maleate
47
Lumigan
Bimatoprost
42
Restasis
Cyclosporine
32
Combigan
Brimonidine Tartrate/Timolol
27
Ciprofloxacin Hcl
20
Dorzolamide-Timolol
Dorzolamide Hcl/Timolol Maleat
19
Brimonidine Tartrate
18
Prednisolone Acetate
18
Brimonidine Tartrate-Timolol
Brimonidine Tartrate/Timolol
12

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

Optometrist Overview

How NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. fits within the Optometrist landscape nationally.

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

NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s 500 claims are above the specialty average of 257.

Nearby Optometrist Providers in Montana

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s specialty?
NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. specializes in Optometrist and practices in HELENA, Montana. Credentials: O.D..
How much does NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. wrote 500 Medicare Part D claims totaling $121K in drug costs for 136 beneficiaries.
What is NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s Medicare quality score?
NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 92.6051/100 (Quality: 100, Cost: 80.3504). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. located?
NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. is located at 3116 SADDLE DR STE 3, HELENA, MT, 59601. Phone: (406) 541-3937.
What is NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s NPI number?
NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1730315730, issued on 06/04/2009.
Does NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s prescribing is 61% brand-name and 39% generic drugs by claim count, with $109K 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 NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Latanoprost, Timolol Maleate, Lumigan. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. accept Medicare?
NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 500 Part D claims and 136 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s credentials?
NICHOLE RIOUX, O.D.'s NPI is 1730315730 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