2026 NPPES data Internal Medicine Physician NPI 1447318357 MD
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SANDRA FORD, MD

Internal Medicine Physician in BIRMINGHAM, 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
10K
Medicare Part D claims · 542 beneficiaries · Internal Medicine Physician avg: 3K
Generic prescribing
86%
generic claims · 14% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$480.3
19 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

SANDRA FORD, MD filed 9,590 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Internal Medicine Physician in BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, prescribing 86% generic.

10K
Part D claims, 2023
86%
generic prescribing
$480.3
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.

SANDRA FORD, MD's Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber

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

9,590 Top 2% higher than 98% of 1,370,886 prescribers

0–200: 670,926 prescribers (49%). Below this entry. 200–400: 182,923 prescribers (13%). Below this entry. 400–600: 90,619 prescribers (7%). Below this entry. 600–800: 56,224 prescribers (4%). Below this entry. 800–1,000: 40,919 prescribers (3%). Below this entry. 1,000–1,200: 31,827 prescribers (2%). Below this entry. 1,200–1,400: 26,224 prescribers (2%). Below this entry. 1,400–1,600: 21,710 prescribers (2%). Below this entry. 1,600–1,800: 19,072 prescribers (1%). Below this entry. 1,800–2,000: 16,451 prescribers (1%). Below this entry. 2,000–2,200: 213,991 prescribers (16%). This entry sits in this band. 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)

SANDRA FORD, 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 SANDRA FORD, MD?

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 12/04/2006

NPI 1447318357

Primary specialty

Internal Medicine Physician

High-volume

172,858 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

9,590 253% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 2,716

Specialty distribution in Alabama

How Internal Medicine Physician compares to other specialties among Alabama providers

Alabama providers

Internal Medicine Physician share within Alabama

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

Specialty board-certification context

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

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

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

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Internal Medicine 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).

SANDRA FORD, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Internal Medicine Physician provider holding MD credentials at 516 TUSCALOOSA AVE SW, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35211, with a listed phone of (205) 786-1025. NPI 1447318357 was issued on 12/04/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what FORD 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 9,590 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 542 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $1.2 million in drug spend, split 14% brand-name and 86% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 2.9%. 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.

Internal Medicine Physician is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 172,858 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 2,716 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

516 TUSCALOOSA AVE SW
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35211

Provider Details

NPI 1447318357
Specialty Internal Medicine Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Female
NPI Issued 12/04/2006

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 SANDRA FORD, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$480

Largest payer

Eisai 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

SANDRA FORD, MD — brand share 14.0%
Specialty average (est.)

14% brand-name claims vs 86% generic, on 9,590 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.

9,590
Total Claims
$1.2M
Total Drug Cost
542
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
23,018
Total Day Supply
676,823
Brand vs Generic
14% brand / 86% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$964K
Generic Drug Cost
$250K
Opioid Claims
275 (2.9% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
125

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
72.1 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.33
Gender Split
78% female / 22% male
Age Distribution
<65: 70, 65-74: 287, 75-84: 133, 85+: 52

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.

What SANDRA FORD, MD prescribes most

Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023

claims
Source CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File As of 2023
Drug Claims
Amlodipine Besylate
607
Atorvastatin Calcium
461
Pravastatin Sodium
277
Potassium Chloride
274
Pantoprazole Sodium
244
Hydralazine Hcl
201
Levothyroxine Sodium
177
Losartan Potassium
174
Albuterol Sulfate Hfa
Albuterol Sulfate
169
Metoprolol Succinate
163

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

Internal Medicine Physician Overview

How SANDRA FORD, MD fits within the Internal Medicine Physician landscape nationally.

172,858
Internal Medicine Physician Providers in US
56
States with Internal Medicine Physician
2,716
Avg Claims per Provider

SANDRA FORD, MD's 9,590 claims are above the specialty average of 2,716.

Nearby Internal Medicine Physician Providers in Alabama

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

Compare Internal Medicine Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SANDRA FORD, MD's specialty?
SANDRA FORD, MD specializes in Internal Medicine Physician and practices in BIRMINGHAM, Alabama. Credentials: MD.
How much does SANDRA FORD, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, SANDRA FORD, MD wrote 9,590 Medicare Part D claims totaling $1.2M in drug costs for 542 beneficiaries.
Where is SANDRA FORD, MD located?
SANDRA FORD, MD is located at 516 TUSCALOOSA AVE SW, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35211. Phone: (205) 786-1025.
What is SANDRA FORD, MD's NPI number?
SANDRA FORD, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1447318357, issued on 12/04/2006.
Does SANDRA FORD, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
SANDRA FORD, MD's prescribing is 14% brand-name and 86% generic drugs by claim count, with $964K in brand drug costs.
Does SANDRA FORD, MD prescribe opioids?
Yes, SANDRA FORD, MD had 275 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 2.9%.
How many Internal Medicine Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 172,858 Internal Medicine Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Internal Medicine Physician provider writes 2,716 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does SANDRA FORD, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, SANDRA FORD, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Amlodipine Besylate, Atorvastatin Calcium, Pravastatin Sodium. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does SANDRA FORD, MD accept Medicare?
SANDRA FORD, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 9,590 Part D claims and 542 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify SANDRA FORD, MD's credentials?
SANDRA FORD, MD's NPI is 1447318357 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