2026 NPPES data Ophthalmology Physician NPI 1144545740 MD
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RICHARD WATSON, MD

Ophthalmology Physician in VESTAVIA, Alabama. 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
142
Medicare Part D claims · 37 beneficiaries · Ophthalmology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
76%
generic claims · 24% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$97.67
5 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

RICHARD WATSON, MD filed 142 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Ophthalmology Physician in VESTAVIA, Alabama, prescribing 76% generic.

142
Part D claims, 2023
76%
generic prescribing
$97.67
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.

RICHARD WATSON, MD's Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber

Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023 — across all CMS prescribers nationally

142 35th percentile higher than 35% of 1,370,886 prescribers

0–200: 670,926 prescribers (49%). This entry sits in this band. 200–400: 182,923 prescribers (13%). Above this entry. 400–600: 90,619 prescribers (7%). Above this entry. 600–800: 56,224 prescribers (4%). Above this entry. 800–1,000: 40,919 prescribers (3%). Above this entry. 1,000–1,200: 31,827 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,200–1,400: 26,224 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,400–1,600: 21,710 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,600–1,800: 19,072 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 1,800–2,000: 16,451 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 2,000–2,200: 213,991 prescribers (16%). Above this entry. This provider 0 2K+ every Part D prescriber (claims/yr), bucketed by value

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)

RICHARD WATSON, 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 RICHARD WATSON, MD?

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 04/07/2010

NPI 1144545740

Primary specialty

Ophthalmology Physician

Mid-sized

22,090 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

142 90% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 1,420

Specialty distribution in Alabama

How Ophthalmology Physician compares to other specialties among Alabama providers

Alabama providers

Ophthalmology Physician share within Alabama

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

Specialty board-certification context

Estimated specialty board-certified rate — Ophthalmology Physician (ABMS / AOA reference)

Quality data not reported
Est. board-certified rate
78%
Ophthalmology Physician ABMS/AOA estimate

Est. board-certified rate (Ophthalmology Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Ophthalmology Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

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 WATSON, MD is a Ophthalmology Physician provider practicing in VESTAVIA, Alabama, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1144545740. 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.

RICHARD WATSON, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Ophthalmology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 4505 PINE TREE CIR STE 120, VESTAVIA, AL, 35243, with a listed phone of (205) 637-7123. NPI 1144545740 was issued on 04/07/2010. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what WATSON 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 142 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 37 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $5K in drug spend, split 24% brand-name and 76% 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.

Ophthalmology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 22,090 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 1,420 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

4505 PINE TREE CIR STE 120
VESTAVIA, AL 35243

Provider Details

NPI 1144545740
Specialty Ophthalmology Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 04/07/2010

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 WATSON, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$98

Largest payer

Apellis 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 · Typical

RICHARD WATSON, MD — brand share 24.0%
Specialty average (est.)

24% brand-name claims vs 76% generic, on 142 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.

142
Total Claims
$5K
Total Drug Cost
37
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
161
Total Day Supply
3,706
Brand vs Generic
24% brand / 76% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$2K
Generic Drug Cost
$3K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
73.4 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.56
Gender Split
59% female / 41% 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
Ketorolac Tromethamine
57
Prednisolone Acetate
29
Moxifloxacin
Moxifloxacin Hcl
17
Dorzolamide Hcl
13

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

Ophthalmology Physician Overview

How RICHARD WATSON, MD fits within the Ophthalmology Physician landscape nationally.

22,090
Ophthalmology Physician Providers in US
56
States with Ophthalmology Physician
1,420
Avg Claims per Provider

RICHARD WATSON, MD's 142 claims are below the specialty average of 1,420.

Nearby Ophthalmology Physician Providers in Alabama

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

Compare Ophthalmology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RICHARD WATSON, MD's specialty?
RICHARD WATSON, MD specializes in Ophthalmology Physician and practices in VESTAVIA, Alabama. Credentials: MD.
How much does RICHARD WATSON, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, RICHARD WATSON, MD wrote 142 Medicare Part D claims totaling $5K in drug costs for 37 beneficiaries.
Where is RICHARD WATSON, MD located?
RICHARD WATSON, MD is located at 4505 PINE TREE CIR STE 120, VESTAVIA, AL, 35243. Phone: (205) 637-7123.
What is RICHARD WATSON, MD's NPI number?
RICHARD WATSON, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1144545740, issued on 04/07/2010.
Does RICHARD WATSON, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
RICHARD WATSON, MD's prescribing is 24% brand-name and 76% generic drugs by claim count, with $2K in brand drug costs.
How many Ophthalmology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 22,090 Ophthalmology Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Ophthalmology Physician provider writes 1,420 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does RICHARD WATSON, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, RICHARD WATSON, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Ketorolac Tromethamine, Prednisolone Acetate, Moxifloxacin. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does RICHARD WATSON, MD accept Medicare?
RICHARD WATSON, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 142 Part D claims and 37 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify RICHARD WATSON, MD's credentials?
RICHARD WATSON, MD's NPI is 1144545740 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

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