2026 NPPES data Dermatology Physician NPI 1326245846 MD
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STEVEN HIGGINS, MD

Dermatology Physician in DURHAM, North Carolina. 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
837
Medicare Part D claims · 333 beneficiaries · Dermatology Physician avg: 729
Generic prescribing
84%
generic claims · 16% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
87.6902/100
▲ 5 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]

What the federal data shows

STEVEN HIGGINS, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 87.6902/100 — above the 83.1 national average — and filed 837 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.

87.6902/100
MIPS score · +5 vs avg
837
Part D claims, 2023
84%
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.

STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician

CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) final score, 2023 — the federal quality measure

88 Top 46% higher than 54% of 477,587 scored providers

0–10: 8,684 scored providers (2%). Below this entry. 10–20: 3,008 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 20–30: 3,069 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 30–40: 2,746 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 40–50: 2,928 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 50–60: 5,882 scored providers (1%). Below this entry. 60–70: 13,906 scored providers (3%). Below this entry. 70–80: 118,074 scored providers (25%). Below this entry. 80–90: 129,887 scored providers (27%). This entry sits in this band. 90–100: 189,403 scored providers (40%). Above this entry. This provider 0 100 every MIPS-scored clinician, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more scored 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.

Source CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) · 2023

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

STEVEN HIGGINS, 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 HIGGINS, MD?

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 06/28/2007

NPI 1326245846

Primary specialty

Dermatology Physician

Mid-sized

14,610 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

837 15% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 729

MIPS final score

87.6902/100 4.59020000000001% pts

Above neutral band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in North Carolina

How Dermatology Physician compares to other specialties among North Carolina providers

North Carolina providers

Dermatology Physician share within North Carolina

1. Dermatology Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Dermatology Physician share within North Carolina

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Dermatology Physician national average

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
87.6902/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Dermatology Physician) — 87.6902/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%87.7%
MIPS final score (Dermatology Physician) — 87.6902/100 vs national avg 83.1

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).

STEVEN HIGGINS, MD is a Dermatology Physician provider practicing in DURHAM, North Carolina, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1326245846. 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.

STEVEN HIGGINS, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Dermatology Physician provider holding MD credentials at 3008 PICKETT RD, DURHAM, NC, 27705, with a listed phone of (919) 286-7903. NPI 1326245846 was issued on 06/28/2007. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what HIGGINS 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 837 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 333 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $839K in drug spend, split 16% brand-name and 84% 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. On the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, this provider earned a Final Score of 87.6902/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 79.208, Cost 86.69), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Dermatology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 14,610 enrolled providers across 53 states and an average of 729 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

3008 PICKETT RD
DURHAM, NC 27705

Provider Details

NPI 1326245846
Specialty Dermatology Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 06/28/2007

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.

87.6902
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
79.208
Quality
86.69
Cost

Reporting: Group practice

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where STEVEN HIGGINS, 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.

TRIANGLE DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES PA
DURHAM, NC

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 HIGGINS, MD — brand share 16.0%
Specialty average (est.)

16% brand-name claims vs 84% generic, on 837 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.

837
Total Claims
$839K
Total Drug Cost
333
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
953
Total Day Supply
25,275
Brand vs Generic
16% brand / 84% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$801K
Generic Drug Cost
$38K
Antibiotic Claims
47

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
73.2 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.07
Gender Split
46% female / 54% male
Age Distribution
<65: 33, 65-74: 140, 75-84: 128, 85+: 32

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Clobetasol Propionate
154
Triamcinolone Acetonide
104
Desonide
56
Ketoconazole
44
Doxycycline Hyclate
37
Betamethasone Dipropionate
33
Humira(Cf) Pen
Adalimumab
25
Metronidazole
24
Tacrolimus
22
Fluconazole
21

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

Dermatology Physician Overview

How STEVEN HIGGINS, MD fits within the Dermatology Physician landscape nationally.

14,610
Dermatology Physician Providers in US
53
States with Dermatology Physician
729
Avg Claims per Provider

STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's 837 claims are above the specialty average of 729.

Nearby Dermatology Physician Providers in North Carolina

Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in North Carolina, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as HIGGINS.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's specialty?
STEVEN HIGGINS, MD specializes in Dermatology Physician and practices in DURHAM, North Carolina. Credentials: MD.
How much does STEVEN HIGGINS, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, STEVEN HIGGINS, MD wrote 837 Medicare Part D claims totaling $839K in drug costs for 333 beneficiaries.
What is STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's Medicare quality score?
STEVEN HIGGINS, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 87.6902/100 (Quality: 79.208, Cost: 86.69). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is STEVEN HIGGINS, MD located?
STEVEN HIGGINS, MD is located at 3008 PICKETT RD, DURHAM, NC, 27705. Phone: (919) 286-7903.
What is STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's NPI number?
STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1326245846, issued on 06/28/2007.
Does STEVEN HIGGINS, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's prescribing is 16% brand-name and 84% generic drugs by claim count, with $801K in brand drug costs.
How many Dermatology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 14,610 Dermatology Physician providers across 53 states in the US. The average Dermatology Physician provider writes 729 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does STEVEN HIGGINS, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Clobetasol Propionate, Triamcinolone Acetonide, Desonide. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does STEVEN HIGGINS, MD accept Medicare?
STEVEN HIGGINS, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 837 Part D claims and 333 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's credentials?
STEVEN HIGGINS, MD's NPI is 1326245846 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.
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 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