2026 NPPES data Ophthalmology Physician NPI 1619985066 M.D.
Verify on CMS →

STEVEN STERLING, M.D.

Ophthalmology Physician in KNOXVILLE, Tennessee. 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
3K
Medicare Part D claims · 673 beneficiaries · Ophthalmology Physician avg: 1K
MIPS score
94.3808/100
▲ 11 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
Industry payments
$227.2
10 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)

What the federal data shows

STEVEN STERLING, M.D. reported a CMS MIPS final score of 94.3808/100 — above the 83.1 national average — and filed 2,768 Medicare Part D claims in 2023.

94.3808/100
MIPS score · +11 vs avg
3K
Part D claims, 2023
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 STERLING, M.D.'s MIPS score vs every scored U.S. clinician

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

94 Top 25% higher than 75% 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%). Below this entry. 90–100: 189,403 scored providers (40%). This entry sits in this band. 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 STERLING, M.D. practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + MIPS quality reporting — 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 STERLING, M.D.?

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 08/03/2006

NPI 1619985066

Primary specialty

Ophthalmology Physician

Mid-sized

22,090 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

2,768 95% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 1,420

MIPS final score

94.3808/100 11.2808% pts

Exceptional band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in Tennessee

How Ophthalmology Physician compares to other specialties among Tennessee providers

Tennessee providers

Ophthalmology Physician share within Tennessee

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

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Ophthalmology Physician national average

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
94.3808/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 94.3808/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%94.4%
MIPS final score (Ophthalmology Physician) — 94.3808/100 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 STERLING, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Ophthalmology Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 2607 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN, 37919, with a listed phone of (865) 540-1777. NPI 1619985066 was issued on 08/03/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what STERLING 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 2,768 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 673 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $209K in drug spend, with an opioid prescribing rate of 0.5%. 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 94.3808/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 100, Cost 81.2693), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Ophthalmology Physician is a mid-sized specialty nationwide, with 22,090 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 1,420 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

2607 KINGSTON PIKE
KNOXVILLE, TN 37919

Provider Details

NPI 1619985066
Specialty Ophthalmology Physician
Credentials M.D.
Gender Male
NPI Issued 08/03/2006

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

94.3808
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
100
Quality
81.2693
Cost

Reporting: Individual

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 STEVEN STERLING, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$227

Largest payer

Mallinckrodt Hospital Products 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.

Medicare Part D Prescribing Data

CMS Medicare Part D prescriber-level data for calendar year 2023.

2,768
Total Claims
$209K
Total Drug Cost
673
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
3,966
Total Day Supply
104,917
Generic Drug Cost
$35K
Opioid Claims
14 (0.5% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
33

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
74.5 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.06
Gender Split
62% female / 38% male
Age Distribution
<65: 28, 65-74: 330, 75-84: 254, 85+: 61

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

What STEVEN STERLING, M.D. 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
Prednisolone Acetate
618
Latanoprost
545
Ofloxacin
535
Ketorolac Tromethamine
440
Lumigan
Bimatoprost
139
Alphagan P
Brimonidine Tartrate
109
Brimonidine Tartrate
47
Neomycin-Polymyxin-Dexameth
Neomycin/Polymyxin B/Dexametha
46
Timolol Maleate
39
Dorzolamide Hcl
35

* 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 STERLING, M.D. fits within the Ophthalmology Physician landscape nationally.

22,090
Ophthalmology Physician Providers in US
56
States with Ophthalmology Physician
1,420
Avg Claims per Provider

STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s 2,768 claims are above the specialty average of 1,420.

Nearby Ophthalmology Physician Providers in Tennessee

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s specialty?
STEVEN STERLING, M.D. specializes in Ophthalmology Physician and practices in KNOXVILLE, Tennessee. Credentials: M.D..
How much does STEVEN STERLING, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, STEVEN STERLING, M.D. wrote 2,768 Medicare Part D claims totaling $209K in drug costs for 673 beneficiaries.
What is STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s Medicare quality score?
STEVEN STERLING, M.D. has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 94.3808/100 (Quality: 100, Cost: 81.2693). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is STEVEN STERLING, M.D. located?
STEVEN STERLING, M.D. is located at 2607 KINGSTON PIKE, KNOXVILLE, TN, 37919. Phone: (865) 540-1777.
What is STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s NPI number?
STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1619985066, issued on 08/03/2006.
Does STEVEN STERLING, M.D. prescribe opioids?
Yes, STEVEN STERLING, M.D. had 14 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 0.5%.
How many Ophthalmology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 22,090 Ophthalmology Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Ophthalmology Physician provider writes 1,420 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does STEVEN STERLING, M.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Prednisolone Acetate, Latanoprost, Ofloxacin. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does STEVEN STERLING, M.D. accept Medicare?
STEVEN STERLING, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 2,768 Part D claims and 673 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s credentials?
STEVEN STERLING, M.D.'s NPI is 1619985066 with credentials M.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

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