NPI registry status
Active
2026 NPPES data Rheumatology Physician NPI 1528042918 MD
Verify on CMS → Steven Stern, MD
Rheumatology Physician in Louisville, Kentucky.
This profile is drawn from the federal National Provider Identifier Registry (CMS NPPES), which lists more than 7 million U.S. healthcare providers - including 6,377 in Rheumatology 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
4K
Medicare Part D claims · 537 beneficiaries · Rheumatology Physician avg: 2K
Generic prescribing
83%
generic claims · 17% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
79.2/100
▼ 4 pts below national avg 83.5 · Above neutral
Industry payments
$16.16
1 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File, 2024
What the federal data shows
Steven Stern, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 79.2/100 - below the 83.5 national average - and filed 4,308 Medicare Part D claims in 2024.
- 79.2/100
- MIPS score · -4 vs avg
- 4K
- Part D claims, 2024
- 83%
- 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 Stern, 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 1528042918), first enumerated 11/30/2005.
Source: CMS NPPES
- Reported
Medicare Part D participation
Filed 4,308 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 79.2/100 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
Industry payment transparency
$16.16 in reported industry payments (1 transfers) in 2024 under the federal Sunshine Act — disclosed transfers of value, not a quality rating.
Source: CMS Open Payments
- 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 1528042918 · Rheumatology Physician
NPI-10 · ENUM-LEGACY · TAX-MID · MIPS-BELOW · RX-MID · BOOK-THIN · PHOTO-FINISH
- NPI-10 1528042918
- ENUM-LEGACY 2005
- TAX-MID 6K Rheumatology Physician
- MIPS-BELOW 79.2/100
- RX-MID 4,308
- BOOK-THIN 63 in Kentucky
- PHOTO-FINISH Ari Schwartz · ±0.0
MIPS final-score neighbourhood
Same-specialty nationwide peers by CMS final score, not geographic proximity
- Stern · this pro…
Stern · this provider
79.2 MIPS pts
- Timothy Howard ·…
Timothy Howard
79.2 MIPS pts
- Ari Schwartz · n…
Ari Schwartz
79.2 MIPS pts
- Behnam Khaleghi …
Behnam Khaleghi
79.2 MIPS pts
- Hossam Elzawawy …
Hossam Elzawawy
79.2 MIPS pts
What this shows Nearest measured MIPS peers for this NUCC specialty (2023 performance year).
Steven Stern, 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 Stern, MD sits
This provider among rheumatology physician peers
Across the 1,970 rheumatology physician providers who report both Medicare Part D prescribing and a MIPS quality score, Steven Stern, MD writes more Part D claims than 87% of them and scores higher on MIPS quality than 28% - placing this provider in the high-volume, lower-quality quadrant. Volume reflects patient-panel size and specialty, not quality; the two axes are independent.
Each dot is one rheumatology physician peer from a representative sample of 60; the gold marker is Steven Stern, MD. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Prescriber data and the CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System, 2023.
✓
Board certification likely (heuristic, not verified)
Steven Stern, MD 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 Stern, MD?
Near national averagePrimary specialty
Rheumatology Physician
Medicare Part D claims
4,308 109% vs specialty avg
MIPS final score
79.2/100 4.3 pts vs avg
Specialty distribution in Kentucky
How Rheumatology Physician compares to other specialties among Kentucky providers
Medicare quality performance, MIPS
Steven Stern, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Rheumatology Physician national average
- MIPS Final Score
- 79.2/100
- 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 | 1528042918 |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Rheumatology Physician |
| Credentials | MD |
| Gender | Male |
| NPI Issued | 11/30/2005 |
CMS Quality Score (MIPS)
Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) scores from CMS, 2023 performance year.
79.1971
Final Score
Measured-score avg: 83.5
100
Quality
30.6571
Cost
100
Promoting Interoperability
Reporting: Group practice
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 Stern, MD. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.
Total received
$16
Largest payer
Amgen 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
Steven Stern, MD - brand share 17.0%
Rheumatology Physician average
17% brand-name claims vs 83% generic, on 4,308 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.
4,308
Total Claims
$4.4M
Total Drug Cost
537
Medicare Beneficiaries
Prescribing Breakdown
- 30-Day Fills
- 8,029.4
- Total Day Supply
- 235,996
- Brand vs Generic
- 17% brand / 83% generic
- Brand Drug Cost
- $4.3M
- Generic Drug Cost
- $113K
- Opioid Claims
- 310 (7.2% rate)
Patient Demographics
- Average Patient Age
- 73.6 years
- Avg HCC Risk Score
- 1.48
- Gender Split
- 66% female / 34% male
- Age Distribution
- <65: 34, 65-74: 272, 75-84: 190, 85+: 41
Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)
Top drugs by claim count for calendar year 2024. Based on Medicare Part D data only.
What Steven Stern, MD prescribes most
Top Medicare Part D drugs by claim count, 2024
- Methotrexate
Methotrexate
822 claims
- Prednisone
Prednisone
485 claims
- Leflunomide
Leflunomide
389 claims
- Hydroxychloroquine… 289
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate
289 claims
- Tramadol Hcl 269
Tramadol Hcl
269 claims
- Sulfasalazine 161
Sulfasalazine
161 claims
- Allopurinol 127
Allopurinol
127 claims
- Enbrel Sureclick 111
Enbrel Sureclick
111 claims
| Drug | Claims |
|---|---|
| Methotrexate Methotrexate Sodium | 822 |
| Prednisone | 485 |
| Leflunomide | 389 |
| Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate | 289 |
| Tramadol Hcl | 269 |
| Sulfasalazine | 161 |
| Allopurinol | 127 |
| Enbrel Sureclick Etanercept | 111 |
| Duloxetine Hcl | 94 |
| Humira(Cf) Pen Adalimumab | 91 |
* Counts below 11 are suppressed by CMS for patient privacy. Generic names shown where available from CMS Part D data.
Rheumatology Physician Overview
How Steven Stern, MD fits within the Rheumatology Physician landscape nationally.
6,377
Rheumatology Physician Providers in US
52
States with Rheumatology Physician
2,058
Avg Claims per Provider
Steven Stern, MD's 4,308 claims are above the specialty average of 2,058.
Nationwide Rheumatology Physician peers with similar MIPS or enrollment year
Two federal-record peer sets for Stern, both outside Kentucky so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment.
Similar MIPS final score
Nearest same-specialty clinicians by CMS MIPS final score (79.2 here).
Same NPPES enumeration year (2005)
Same-specialty clinicians who entered the NPI registry in the same calendar year, outside this state.
Nearby Rheumatology Physician Providers in Kentucky
Other clinicians with the same primary specialty enrolled in Kentucky, drawn from the same CMS NPPES roster as Stern.
One of 63 Rheumatology Physician providers enrolled in Kentucky, 5 are shown here.
Dr. Syed Abbas
M.D.
Lexington, KY
Dr. Elaine Alexander
M.D.
Lexington, KY
Dr. Reem Alkilany
MD
Lexington, KY
Dr. Izabela Antic
DO
Lexington, KY
Dr. Billy Bailey
MD
Paducah, KY
Compare Rheumatology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Steven Stern, MD's specialty? ▼
Steven Stern, MD specializes in Rheumatology Physician and practices in Louisville, Kentucky. Credentials: MD.
How much does Steven Stern, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D? ▼
In 2024, Steven Stern, MD wrote 4,308 Medicare Part D claims totaling $4.4M in drug costs for 537 beneficiaries.
What is Steven Stern, MD's Medicare quality score? ▼
Steven Stern, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 79.2/100 (Quality: 100, Cost: 30.7). 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 Stern, MD located? ▼
Steven Stern, MD is located at 100 E LIBERTY ST, Louisville, KY, 40202. Phone: (502) 583-5836.
What is Steven Stern, MD's NPI number? ▼
Steven Stern, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1528042918, issued on 11/30/2005.
Does Steven Stern, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs? ▼
Steven Stern, MD's prescribing is 17% brand-name and 83% generic drugs by claim count, with $4.3M in brand drug costs.
Does Steven Stern, MD prescribe opioids? ▼
Yes, Steven Stern, MD had 310 opioid claims in 2024 with an opioid prescribing rate of 7.2%.
How many Rheumatology Physician providers are there in the US? ▼
There are 6,377 Rheumatology Physician providers across 52 states in the US. The average Rheumatology Physician provider writes 2,058 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does Steven Stern, MD prescribe most often? ▼
Based on 2024 Medicare Part D data, Steven Stern, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Methotrexate, Prednisone, Leflunomide. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does Steven Stern, MD accept Medicare? ▼
Steven Stern, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 4,308 Part D claims and 537 Medicare beneficiaries in 2024. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify Steven Stern, MD's credentials? ▼
Steven Stern, MD's NPI is 1528042918 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.