2026 NPPES data Optometrist NPI 1881658565 OD
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RUBEN CARLSON, OD

Optometrist in TAMPA, Florida. 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
186
Medicare Part D claims · 59 beneficiaries · Optometrist avg: 257
Generic prescribing
74%
generic claims · 26% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
What the federal data reveals: RUBEN CARLSON, OD is a Optometrist ([object Object]) practicing in TAMPA, Florida with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 186 claims across 59 beneficiaries — 26% brand-name prescribing .

What stands out: RUBEN CARLSON, OD filed 186 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 across TAMPA, Florida. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

RUBEN CARLSON, OD at a glance

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 04/12/2006

NPI 1881658565

Primary specialty

Optometrist

High-volume

60,463 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

186 28% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 257

Specialty distribution in Florida

How Optometrist compares to other specialties among Florida providers

Florida providers

Optometrist share within Florida

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

Specialty board-certification context

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

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

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

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Optometrist) — 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).

RUBEN CARLSON, OD is a Optometrist provider practicing in TAMPA, Florida, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: OD. NPI: 1881658565. 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.

RUBEN CARLSON, OD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Optometrist provider holding OD credentials at 5201 E BUSCH BLVD, TAMPA, FL, 33617, with a listed phone of (813) 979-2929. NPI 1881658565 was issued on 04/12/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what CARLSON 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 186 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 59 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $21K in drug spend, split 26% brand-name and 74% 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.

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

5201 E BUSCH BLVD
TAMPA, FL 33617

Provider Details

NPI 1881658565
Specialty Optometrist
Credentials OD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 04/12/2006

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where RUBEN CARLSON, OD 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.

SIGHTRITE MEDICAL FL PLLC
JUPITER, FL
SIGHTRITE MEDICAL VA PLLC
RICHMOND, VA
SWIFT OPTOMETRY CARE PC
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL

Affiliations sourced from CMS Doctors and Clinicians National Downloadable File; hospital ratings from CMS Hospital General Information dataset (cross-referenced by facility name + state).

License & disciplinary context — Florida FLDOH 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 ~75K Florida medical licensees in 2023 — they are NOT specific to RUBEN CARLSON, OD. To verify RUBEN CARLSON, OD's current license status, search the FLDOH public license lookup directly, or check the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) verification service.

480
Total board actions, Florida 2023
Across 467 cases
6.40
Actions per 1,000 licensees
Florida statewide rate
monetary fine
Most common action type
138 cases

FLDOH 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 Florida disciplinary trends page. Cross-checked against FSMB U.S. Medical Regulatory Trends.

Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Above average

RUBEN CARLSON, OD — brand share 26.0%
Specialty average (est.)

26% brand-name claims vs 74% generic, on 186 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.

186
Total Claims
$21K
Total Drug Cost
59
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
226
Total Day Supply
6,297
Brand vs Generic
26% brand / 74% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$15K
Generic Drug Cost
$6K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
72.6 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.85
Gender Split
78% female / 22% 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
Azelastine Hcl
109
Latanoprost
27
Restasis
Cyclosporine
13

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

Optometrist Overview

How RUBEN CARLSON, OD fits within the Optometrist landscape nationally.

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

RUBEN CARLSON, OD's 186 claims are below the specialty average of 257.

Nearby Optometrist Providers in Florida

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RUBEN CARLSON, OD's specialty?
RUBEN CARLSON, OD specializes in Optometrist and practices in TAMPA, Florida. Credentials: OD.
How much does RUBEN CARLSON, OD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, RUBEN CARLSON, OD wrote 186 Medicare Part D claims totaling $21K in drug costs for 59 beneficiaries.
Where is RUBEN CARLSON, OD located?
RUBEN CARLSON, OD is located at 5201 E BUSCH BLVD, TAMPA, FL, 33617. Phone: (813) 979-2929.
What is RUBEN CARLSON, OD's NPI number?
RUBEN CARLSON, OD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1881658565, issued on 04/12/2006.
Does RUBEN CARLSON, OD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
RUBEN CARLSON, OD's prescribing is 26% brand-name and 74% generic drugs by claim count, with $15K 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 RUBEN CARLSON, OD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, RUBEN CARLSON, OD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Azelastine Hcl, Latanoprost, Restasis. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does RUBEN CARLSON, OD accept Medicare?
RUBEN CARLSON, OD appears in CMS Medicare data with 186 Part D claims and 59 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify RUBEN CARLSON, OD's credentials?
RUBEN CARLSON, OD's NPI is 1881658565 with credentials OD. 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