NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Optometrist NPI 1437585163 O.D.
Verify on CMS → Stephen Eckel, O.D.
Optometrist in Mint Hill, North Carolina.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 60,484 in Optometrist, 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
274
Medicare Part D claims · 117 beneficiaries · Optometrist avg: 257
Generic prescribing
65%
generic claims · 35% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$327.24
17 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
Stephen Eckel, O.D. filed 274 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Optometrist in Mint Hill, North Carolina, prescribing 65% generic.
- 274
- Part D claims, 2023
- 65%
- generic prescribing
- $327.24
- 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.
Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber
Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023, across all CMS prescribers nationally
274 49th percentile higher than 49% 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
What does the federal data show about Stephen Eckel, O.D.?
Quality data not reportedPrimary specialty
Optometrist
Medicare Part D claims
274 7% vs specialty avg
Specialty distribution in North Carolina
How Optometrist compares to other specialties among North Carolina 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 Optometrist. 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).
Stephen Eckel, O.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as an Optometrist provider holding O.D. credentials at 7148 LAWYERS RD, Mint Hill, NC, 28227, with a listed phone of (704) 535-9252. NPI 1437585163 was issued on 09/26/2013.
Medicare Part D records for calendar year 2023 show 274 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 117 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $93K in drug spend, split 35% brand-name and 65% generic by claim count.
Optometrist is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 60,484 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
Provider Details
| NPI | 1437585163 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Optometrist |
| Credentials | O.D. |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 09/26/2013 |
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 Stephen Eckel, O.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$327
Largest payer
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, 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 · Above average
Stephen Eckel, O.D. - brand share 35.0%
Optometrist average
35% brand-name claims vs 65% generic, on 274 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.
274
Total Claims
$93K
Total Drug Cost
117
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 523
- Total Day Supply
- 14,567
- Brand vs Generic
- 35% brand / 65% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $86K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $7K
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 74.6 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.23
- Gender Split
- 73% female / 27% male
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2023. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Stephen Eckel, O.D. prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2023
- Latanoprost
Latanoprost
93 claims
- Restasis 31
Restasis
31 claims
- Dexamethasone Sodi… 29
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate
29 claims
- Lumigan 17
Lumigan
17 claims
- Dorzolamide-Timolol 16
Dorzolamide-Timolol
16 claims
- Tobramycin-Dexamet… 14
Tobramycin-Dexamethasone
14 claims
- Timolol Maleate 13
Timolol Maleate
13 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Latanoprost | 93 |
| Restasis Cyclosporine | 31 |
| Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate | 29 |
| Lumigan Bimatoprost | 17 |
| Dorzolamide-Timolol Dorzolamide Hcl/Timolol Maleat | 16 |
| Tobramycin-Dexamethasone Tobramycin/Dexamethasone | 14 |
| Timolol Maleate | 13 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Optometrist Overview
How Stephen Eckel, O.D. fits within the Optometrist landscape nationally.
60,484
Optometrist Providers in US
56
States with Optometrist
257
Avg Claims per Provider
Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s 274 claims are above the specialty average of 257.
Nearby Optometrist Providers in North Carolina
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in North Carolina, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Eckel.
Dr. Charlotte Ablott
OD
Salisbury, NC
Dr. Eric Ablott
OD
Randleman, NC
Dr. John Adams
OD
Lumberton, NC
Dr. Rick Adams
OD
Rocky Mount, NC
Dr. William Adams
O.D.
Benson, NC
Compare Optometrist 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 North Carolina medical board, federal registration is not a license check. Credential verification guide
- Weigh a second option: compare this provider with a nearby Optometrist 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 Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s specialty? ▼
Stephen Eckel, O.D. specializes in Optometrist and practices in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Credentials: O.D..
How much does Stephen Eckel, O.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2023, Stephen Eckel, O.D. wrote 274 Medicare Part D claims totaling $93K in drug costs for 117 beneficiaries.
Where is Stephen Eckel, O.D. located? ▼
Stephen Eckel, O.D. is located at 7148 LAWYERS RD, Mint Hill, NC, 28227. Phone: (704) 535-9252.
What is Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s NPI number? ▼
Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1437585163, issued on 09/26/2013.
Does Stephen Eckel, O.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s prescribing is 35% brand-name and 65% generic drugs by claim count, with $86K in brand drug costs.
How many Optometrist providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 60,484 Optometrist providers across 56 states in the US. The average Optometrist provider writes 257 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Stephen Eckel, O.D. prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Latanoprost, Restasis, Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Stephen Eckel, O.D. accept Medicare? ▼
Stephen Eckel, O.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 274 Part D claims and 117 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s credentials? ▼
Stephen Eckel, O.D.'s NPI is 1437585163 with credentials O.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.
- 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.