NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Neurology Physician NPI 1851518476 M.D.
Verify on CMS → Richard Diethelm, M.D.
Neurology Physician in Birmingham, Alabama.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 19,866 in Neurology 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
15K
Medicare Part D claims · 2K beneficiaries · Neurology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
89%
generic claims · 10% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
0/100
▼ 83 pts below national avg 83.1 · Penalty band
Industry payments
$5.3K
243 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
Richard Diethelm, M.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 0/100 - below the 83.1 national average - and filed 14,825 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.
- 0/100
- MIPS score · -83 vs avg
- 15K
- Part D claims, 2023
- 89%
- 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.
Richard Diethelm, 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
0 0th percentile higher than 0% 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 Richard Diethelm, M.D. sits
This provider among neurology physician peers
Across the 5,437 neurology physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Richard Diethelm, M.D. writes more Part D claims than 100% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 0% - placing this provider in the high-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 neurology physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Richard Diethelm, M.D.. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Richard Diethelm, M.D. 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 Richard Diethelm, M.D.?
Below national averagePrimary specialty
Neurology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
14,825 11× vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
0/100 83.1 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in Alabama
How Neurology Physician compares to other specialties among Alabama providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Neurology Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 0/100
- vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year
MIPS final score (Neurology Physician) - 0/100 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).
Richard Diethelm, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Neurology Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 48 MEDICAL PARK DR E, Birmingham, AL, 35235, with a listed phone of (205) 836-9366. NPI 1851518476 was issued on 04/18/2007.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 14,825 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 1,783 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $6.8 million in drug spend, split 10% brand-name and 89% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 3.2%. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 0/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 0), compared with the national average of 83.1.
Neurology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 19,866 enrolled providers across 54 states and an average of 1,309 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 | 1851518476 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Neurology Physician |
| Credentials | M.D. |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 04/18/2007 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
0
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
0
Quality
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 Richard Diethelm, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$5.3K
Largest payer
ABBVIE 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 · Typical
Richard Diethelm, M.D. - brand share 10.0%
Neurology Physician average
10% brand-name claims vs 89% generic, on 14,825 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.
14,825
Total Claims
$6.8M
Total Drug Cost
1,783
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 25,271
- Total Day Supply
- 735,209
- Brand vs Generic
- 10% brand / 89% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $6.0M
- Generic Drug Cost
- $730K
- Opioid Claims
- 473 (3.2% rate)
- Antibiotic Claims
- 33
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 70.8 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.56
- Gender Split
- 63% female / 37% male
- Age Distribution
- <65: 389, 65-74: 623, 75-84: 616, 85+: 155
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Richard Diethelm, M.D. prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Donepezil Hcl
Donepezil Hcl
936 claims
- Gabapentin
Gabapentin
924 claims
- Carbidopa-Levodopa
Carbidopa-Levodopa
701 claims
- Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam
566 claims
- Amitriptyline Hcl
Amitriptyline Hcl
522 claims
- Memantine Hcl
Memantine Hcl
499 claims
- Rizatriptan
Rizatriptan
471 claims
- Clonazepam
Clonazepam
417 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Donepezil Hcl | 936 |
| Gabapentin | 924 |
| Carbidopa-Levodopa Carbidopa/Levodopa | 701 |
| Levetiracetam | 566 |
| Amitriptyline Hcl | 522 |
| Memantine Hcl | 499 |
| Rizatriptan Rizatriptan Benzoate | 471 |
| Clonazepam | 417 |
| Topiramate | 383 |
| Primidone | 355 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Neurology Physician Overview
How Richard Diethelm, M.D. fits within the Neurology Physician landscape nationally.
19,866
Neurology Physician Providers in US
54
States with Neurology Physician
1,309
Avg Claims per Provider
Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s 14,825 claims are above the specialty average of 1,309.
Nearby Neurology Physician Providers in Alabama
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Alabama, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Diethelm.
Shruti Agnihotri
Birmingham, AL
Dr. Mohammad Aladawi
MD
Birmingham, AL
Dr. Anjaneyulu Alapati
M.D.
Huntsville, AL
Dr. Muhammad Ali
M.D.
Jasper, AL
Dr. Amit Arora
M.D.
Huntsville, AL
Compare Neurology 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 Alabama medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Neurology 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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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s specialty? ▼
Richard Diethelm, M.D. specializes in Neurology Physician and practices in Birmingham, Alabama. Credentials: M.D..
How much does Richard Diethelm, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Richard Diethelm, M.D. wrote 14,825 Medicare Part D claims totaling $6.8M in drug costs for 1,783 beneficiaries.
What is Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s Medicare quality score? ▼
Richard Diethelm, M.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 0/100 (Quality: 0). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Richard Diethelm, M.D. located? ▼
Richard Diethelm, M.D. is located at 48 MEDICAL PARK DR E, Birmingham, AL, 35235. Phone: (205) 836-9366.
What is Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s NPI number? ▼
Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1851518476, issued on 04/18/2007.
Does Richard Diethelm, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s prescribing is 10% brand-name and 89% generic drugs by claim count, with $6.0M in brand drug costs.
Does Richard Diethelm, M.D. prescribe opioids? ▼
Yes, Richard Diethelm, M.D. had 473 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 3.2%.
How many Neurology Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 19,866 Neurology Physician providers across 54 states in the US. The average Neurology Physician provider writes 1,309 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Richard Diethelm, M.D. prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Donepezil Hcl, Gabapentin, Carbidopa-Levodopa. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Richard Diethelm, M.D. accept Medicare? ▼
Richard Diethelm, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 14,825 Part D claims and 1,783 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s credentials? ▼
Richard Diethelm, M.D.'s NPI is 1851518476 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
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.