NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Rheumatology Physician NPI 1871657643 MD
Verify on CMS → Phyllis Birkel, MD
Rheumatology Physician in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 6,200 in Rheumatology 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
1K
Medicare Part D claims · 102 beneficiaries · Rheumatology Physician avg: 2K
Generic prescribing
83%
generic claims · 17% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$2.5K
144 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File, 2023
Compiled from official public sources by the PlainDoctor editorial team.
What the federal data shows
Phyllis Birkel, MD filed 1,090 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Rheumatology Physician in Rochester Hills, Michigan, prescribing 83% generic.
- 1K
- Part D claims, 2023
- 83%
- generic prescribing
- $2.5K
- 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.
Phyllis Birkel, MD's Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber
Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023, across all CMS prescribers nationally
1,090 Top 24% higher than 76% of 1,370,886 prescribers
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)
Phyllis Birkel, MD 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 Phyllis Birkel, MD?
Quality data not reportedPrimary specialty
Rheumatology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
1,090 47% vs specialty avg
Specialty distribution in Michigan
How Rheumatology Physician compares to other specialties among Michigan providers
Board certification
Not published by CMS
CMS does not publish a per-provider board-certification field in NPPES. PlainDoctor does not have a reliable per-specialty certification rate to show for Rheumatology Physician. Verify directly:
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).
Phyllis Birkel, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Rheumatology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 1460 WALTON BLVD STE 110, Rochester Hills, MI, 48309, with a listed phone of (248) 650-7700. NPI 1871657643 was issued on 12/19/2006.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 1,090 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 102 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $976K in drug spend, split 17% brand-name and 83% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 4.9%.
Rheumatology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 6,200 enrolled providers across 52 states and an average of 2,054 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 | 1871657643 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Rheumatology Physician |
| Credentials | MD |
| Gender | Female |
| NPI Issued | 12/19/2006 |
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 Phyllis Birkel, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$2.5K
Largest payer
Janssen Biotech, 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 - Michigan MI-BOM 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 ~41K Michigan medical licensees in 2023 - they are NOT specific to Phyllis Birkel, MD. To verify Phyllis Birkel, MD's current license status, search the MI-BOM public license lookup directly, or check the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) verification service.
123
Total board actions, Michigan 2023
Across 120 cases
3.00
Actions per 1,000 licensees
Michigan statewide rate
probation
Most common action type
44 cases
MI-BOM 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 Michigan disciplinary trends page. Cross-checked against FSMB U.S. Medical Regulatory Trends.
Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Typical
Phyllis Birkel, MD - brand share 17.0%
Rheumatology Physician average
17% brand-name claims vs 83% generic, on 1,090 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.
1,090
Total Claims
$976K
Total Drug Cost
102
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 1,696
- Total Day Supply
- 49,732
- Brand vs Generic
- 17% brand / 83% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $951K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $25K
- Opioid Claims
- 53 (4.9% rate)
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 73.8 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.56
- Gender Split
- 76% female / 24% male
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Phyllis Birkel, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Prednisone
Prednisone
217 claims
- Methotrexate
Methotrexate
156 claims
- Hydroxychloroquine…
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate
87 claims
- Enbrel Sureclick 68
Enbrel Sureclick
68 claims
- Sulfasalazine 54
Sulfasalazine
54 claims
- Azathioprine 43
Azathioprine
43 claims
- Hydrocodone-Acetam… 40
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
40 claims
- Omeprazole 39
Omeprazole
39 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Prednisone | 217 |
| Methotrexate Methotrexate Sodium | 156 |
| Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate | 87 |
| Enbrel Sureclick Etanercept | 68 |
| Sulfasalazine | 54 |
| Azathioprine | 43 |
| Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen | 40 |
| Omeprazole | 39 |
| Risedronate Sodium | 24 |
| Enbrel Etanercept | 23 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Rheumatology Physician Overview
How Phyllis Birkel, MD fits within the Rheumatology Physician landscape nationally.
6,200
Rheumatology Physician Providers in US
52
States with Rheumatology Physician
2,054
Avg Claims per Provider
Phyllis Birkel, MD's 1,090 claims are below the specialty average of 2,054.
Nearby Rheumatology Physician Providers in Michigan
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Michigan, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Birkel.
Dr. Brandon Ahlgren
MD
Detroit, MI
Khashayar Ahmadmehrabi
Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. Fadi Ajine
MD
Kalamazoo, MI
Dr. Imad Alazem
M.D.
Dearborn, MI
Dr. Blesset Alexander
M.D.
Detroit, MI
Compare Rheumatology 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 Michigan medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Rheumatology 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.
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How insurance networks affect your costs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Phyllis Birkel, MD's specialty? ▼
Phyllis Birkel, MD specializes in Rheumatology Physician and practices in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Credentials: MD.
How much does Phyllis Birkel, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Phyllis Birkel, MD wrote 1,090 Medicare Part D claims totaling $976K in drug costs for 102 beneficiaries.
Where is Phyllis Birkel, MD located? ▼
Phyllis Birkel, MD is located at 1460 WALTON BLVD STE 110, Rochester Hills, MI, 48309. Phone: (248) 650-7700.
What is Phyllis Birkel, MD's NPI number? ▼
Phyllis Birkel, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1871657643, issued on 12/19/2006.
Does Phyllis Birkel, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Phyllis Birkel, MD's prescribing is 17% brand-name and 83% generic drugs by claim count, with $951K in brand drug costs.
Does Phyllis Birkel, MD prescribe opioids? ▼
Yes, Phyllis Birkel, MD had 53 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 4.9%.
How many Rheumatology Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 6,200 Rheumatology Physician providers across 52 states in the US. The average Rheumatology Physician provider writes 2,054 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Phyllis Birkel, MD prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Phyllis Birkel, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Prednisone, Methotrexate, Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Phyllis Birkel, MD accept Medicare? ▼
Phyllis Birkel, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 1,090 Part D claims and 102 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Phyllis Birkel, MD's credentials? ▼
Phyllis Birkel, MD's NPI is 1871657643 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.
- 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.