NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Ophthalmology Physician NPI 1578590634 MD
Verify on CMS → Steven Couch, MD
Ophthalmology Physician in Saint Louis, Missouri.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 22,388 in Ophthalmology 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
595
Medicare Part D claims · 318 beneficiaries · Ophthalmology Physician avg: 1K
Generic prescribing
90%
generic claims · 10% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
79.3/100
▼ 4 pts below national avg 83.5 · Above neutral
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File, 2024
What the federal data shows
Steven Couch, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 79.3/100 - below the 83.5 national average - and filed 595 Medicare Part D claims in 2024.
- 79.3/100
- MIPS score · -4 vs avg
- 595
- Part D claims, 2024
- 90%
- 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.
Federal trust snapshot
What official records show about Steven Couch, MD
Federal records show an active NPI with both Medicare prescribing volume and a measured CMS quality score — objective registry data, not patient reviews.
- Verified
NPI registry status
Active listing in the CMS National Provider Identifier Registry (NPI 1578590634), first enumerated 06/26/2006.
Source: CMS NPPES
- Reported
Medicare Part D participation
Filed 595 Medicare Part D prescription claims in the 2023 CMS public use file — indicates active Medicare prescribing participation.
Source: CMS Part D Prescriber PUF
- Reported
CMS quality reporting (MIPS)
Reported a CMS MIPS final score of 79.3/100 in the Quality Payment Program — a federal quality measure, not a patient review.
Source: CMS Quality Payment Program
- Reported
Board certification signal
Heuristic suggests board-certified status based on ABMS-eligible specialty taxonomy plus active CMS participation signals — not a direct ABMS verification.
- Reported
Hospital affiliations
1 CMS Care Compare hospital affiliation on record — practice footprint from the Doctors and Clinicians file.
Source: CMS Care Compare
- Not in federal data
Individual sanction lookup
PlainDoctor does not publish per-provider disciplinary determinations. Confirm current license and any individual actions through the state medical board or FSMB verification service.
Source: State medical board / FSMB
This trust snapshot summarizes only what appears in federal CMS/NPPES public records. It is not a composite score, star rating, patient review, or clinical recommendation. PlainDoctor never fabricates reviews or AggregateRating schema.
CMS NPPES provider registry desk
NPI 1578590634 · Ophthalmology Physician
NPI-10 · ENUM-LEGACY · TAX-MID · MIPS-BELOW · RX-LIGHT · BOOK-THIN · PHOTO-FINISH
- NPI-10 1578590634
- ENUM-LEGACY 2006
- TAX-MID 22K Ophthalmology Physician
- MIPS-BELOW 79.3/100
- RX-LIGHT 595
- BOOK-THIN 327 in Missouri
- PHOTO-FINISH Nathaniel Blecher · ±0.0
MIPS final-score neighbourhood
Same-specialty nationwide peers by CMS final score, not geographic proximity
- Couch · this pro…
Couch · this provider
79.3 MIPS pts
- Ross Kennamer-Ch…
Ross Kennamer-Chapman
79.3 MIPS pts
- Nathaniel Bleche…
Nathaniel Blecher
79.3 MIPS pts
- Wesley Green · n…
Wesley Green
79.3 MIPS pts
- Lynn Hassman · n…
Lynn Hassman
79.3 MIPS pts
What this shows Nearest measured MIPS peers for this NUCC specialty (2023 performance year).
Steven Couch, MD's MIPS score vs every measured U.S. clinician
CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023, the federal quality measure. Clinicians whose score CMS assigned without scoring any category are excluded.
79 ≥ 26th percentile 26% of 454,083 measured providers are in lower value bands
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more measured 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.
The percentile is a conservative whole-score-point band: it counts only measured clinicians in lower score bands. A CMS MIPS metric is not a recommendation or a clinical-quality rating by PlainDoctor. See methodology § corpus placement.
Source CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) · 2023
Where Steven Couch, MD sits
This provider among ophthalmology physician peers
Across the 8,767 ophthalmology physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Steven Couch, MD writes more Part D claims than 31% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 26% - placing this provider in the lower-volume, lower-quality quadrant. Volume reflects patient-panel size and specialty, not quality; the two axes are independent.
Each dot is one ophthalmology physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Steven Couch, MD. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Steven Couch, MD practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + MIPS quality reporting + 1 hospital affiliation - 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 Steven Couch, MD?
Near national averagePrimary specialty
Ophthalmology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
595 60% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
79.3/100 4.2 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in Missouri
How Ophthalmology Physician compares to other specialties among Missouri providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Steven Couch, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Ophthalmology Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 79.3/100
- vs 83.5 national avg · 2023 performance year
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).
Practice Address
Provider Details
| NPI | 1578590634 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Ophthalmology Physician |
| Credentials | MD |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 06/26/2006 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
79.292
Final Score
Measured-score avg: 83.5
71.46
Quality
59.5132
Cost
100
Promoting Interoperability
Reporting: Group practice
Hospital and facility affiliations
Facilities where Steven Couch, MD 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.
Washington University
Saint Louis, MO
Affiliations sourced from CMS Doctors and Clinicians National Downloadable File; hospital ratings from CMS Hospital General Information dataset (cross-referenced by facility name + state).
Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Typical
Steven Couch, MD - brand share 10.0%
Ophthalmology Physician average
10% brand-name claims vs 90% generic, on 595 2024 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 2024.
595
Total Claims
$15K
Total Drug Cost
318
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 611.533
- Total Day Supply
- 8,284
- Brand vs Generic
- 10% brand / 90% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $9K
- Generic Drug Cost
- $5K
- Opioid Claims
- 12 (2.0% rate)
- Antibiotic Claims
- 31
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 74.6 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.23
- Gender Split
- 63% female / 37% male
- Age Distribution
- <65: 18, 65-74: 147, 75-84: 109, 85+: 44
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2024. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Steven Couch, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2024
- Erythromycin
Erythromycin
393 claims
- Neomycin-Polymyxin… 30
Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth
30 claims
- Prednisone 19
Prednisone
19 claims
- Ondansetron Odt 18
Ondansetron Odt
18 claims
- Amoxicillin-Clavul… 11
Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Potass
11 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Erythromycin Erythromycin Base | 393 |
| Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Dexametha | 30 |
| Prednisone | 19 |
| Ondansetron Odt Ondansetron | 18 |
| Amoxicillin-Clavulanate Potass Amoxicillin/Potassium Clav | 11 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Ophthalmology Physician Overview
How Steven Couch, MD fits within the Ophthalmology Physician landscape nationally.
22,388
Ophthalmology Physician Providers in US
56
States with Ophthalmology Physician
1,490
Avg Claims per Provider
Steven Couch, MD's 595 claims are below the specialty average of 1,490.
Nationwide Ophthalmology Physician peers with similar MIPS or enrollment year
Two federal-record peer sets for Couch, both outside Missouri so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.
Similar MIPS final score
Nearest same-specialty clinicians by CMS MIPS final score (79.3 here).
Same NPPES enumeration year (2006)
Same-specialty clinicians who entered the NPI registry in the same calendar year, outside this state.
Nearby Ophthalmology Physician Providers in Missouri
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Missouri, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Couch.
One of 327 Ophthalmology Physician providers enrolled in Missouri, 5 are shown here.
Dr. Mohamed Abou Shousha
MD
Saint Louis, MO
Dr. Levent Akduman
MD
St Louis, MO
Dr. Cetin Akpolat
MD
Columbia, MO
Dr. Mohannad Al-Samarraie
M.D
Columbia, MO
Dr. Josh Amato
M.D.
Des Peres, MO
Compare Ophthalmology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Steven Couch, MD's specialty? ▼
Steven Couch, MD specializes in Ophthalmology Physician and practices in Saint Louis, Missouri. Credentials: MD.
How much does Steven Couch, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2024, Steven Couch, MD wrote 595 Medicare Part D claims totaling $15K in drug costs for 318 beneficiaries.
What is Steven Couch, MD's Medicare quality score? ▼
Steven Couch, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 79.3/100 (Quality: 71.5, Cost: 59.5). The average MIPS Final Score across the 454,083 clinicians with at least one published category score is 83.5; clinicians whose score CMS assigned without scoring any category are excluded from that average. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is Steven Couch, MD located? ▼
Steven Couch, MD is located at 450 N NEW BALLAS RD, Saint Louis, MO, 63141. Phone: (314) 362-3937.
What is Steven Couch, MD's NPI number? ▼
Steven Couch, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1578590634, issued on 06/26/2006.
Does Steven Couch, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Steven Couch, MD's prescribing is 10% brand-name and 90% generic drugs by claim count, with $9K in brand drug costs.
Does Steven Couch, MD prescribe opioids? ▼
Yes, Steven Couch, MD had 12 opioid claims in 2024 with an opioid prescribing rate of 2.0%.
How many Ophthalmology Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 22,388 Ophthalmology Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Ophthalmology Physician provider writes 1,490 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Steven Couch, MD prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2024 Medicare Part D data, Steven Couch, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Erythromycin, Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth, Prednisone. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Steven Couch, MD accept Medicare? ▼
Steven Couch, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 595 Part D claims and 318 Medicare beneficiaries in 2024. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Steven Couch, MD's credentials? ▼
Steven Couch, MD's NPI is 1578590634 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
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 (2024). 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 August 2026 (NPPES) / 2024 (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
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 August 2026.