2026 NPPES data Internal Medicine Physician NPI 1255674784 MD
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THEODORE BELSCHES, MD

Internal Medicine Physician in COLUMBIA, South 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
5K
Medicare Part D claims · 321 beneficiaries · Internal Medicine Physician avg: 3K
Generic prescribing
88%
generic claims · 12% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
MIPS score
99.3294/100
▲ 16 pts above national avg 83.1 · [object Object]
What the federal data reveals: THEODORE BELSCHES, MD is a Internal Medicine Physician ([object Object]) practicing in COLUMBIA, South Carolina with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 5K claims across 321 beneficiaries — 12% brand-name prescribing . Their CMS MIPS Final Score of 99.3294/100 (national average: 83.1) reflects performance across Quality, Cost, Interoperability, and Improvement Activities .

What stands out: THEODORE BELSCHES, MD reported a CMS MIPS final score of 99.3294 out of 100, above the 83.1 national average, and filed 5,069 Medicare Part D claims in 2023. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

THEODORE BELSCHES, 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).

THEODORE BELSCHES, MD at a glance

High performer (top quartile)

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 04/03/2013

NPI 1255674784

Primary specialty

Internal Medicine Physician

High-volume

172,858 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

5,069 87% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 2,716

MIPS final score

99.3294/100 16.229400000000012% pts

Exceptional band

vs 83.1 national avg

Specialty distribution in South Carolina

How Internal Medicine Physician compares to other specialties among South Carolina providers

South Carolina providers

Internal Medicine Physician share within South Carolina

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

Medicare quality performance — MIPS

THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's 2023 MIPS final score plotted against the Internal Medicine Physician national average

High performer (top quartile)
MIPS Final Score
99.3294/100
vs 83.1 national avg · 2023 performance year

MIPS final score (Internal Medicine Physician) — 99.3294/100 vs national avg 83.1

0%100%National avg83%99%
MIPS final score (Internal Medicine Physician) — 99.3294/100 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).

THEODORE BELSCHES, MD is a Internal Medicine Physician provider practicing in COLUMBIA, South Carolina, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: MD. NPI: 1255674784. 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.

THEODORE BELSCHES, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Internal Medicine Physician provider holding MD credentials at 115 BLARNEY DR STE 108, COLUMBIA, SC, 29223, with a listed phone of (803) 462-9200. NPI 1255674784 was issued on 04/03/2013. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what BELSCHES 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 5,069 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 321 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $603K in drug spend, split 12% brand-name and 88% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 0.8%. 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 99.3294/100 for the 2023 performance year (Quality 90.5979), compared with the national average of 83.1.

Internal Medicine Physician is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 172,858 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 2,716 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

115 BLARNEY DR STE 108
COLUMBIA, SC 29223

Provider Details

NPI 1255674784
Specialty Internal Medicine Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 04/03/2013

CMS Quality Score (MIPS)

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

99.3294
Final Score
Avg: 83.1
90.5979
Quality
100
Promoting Interoperability

Reporting: Alternative Payment Model

Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Typical

THEODORE BELSCHES, MD — brand share 12.0%
Specialty average (est.)

12% brand-name claims vs 88% generic, on 5,069 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.

5,069
Total Claims
$603K
Total Drug Cost
321
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
12,621
Total Day Supply
373,739
Brand vs Generic
12% brand / 88% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$496K
Generic Drug Cost
$105K
Opioid Claims
41 (0.8% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
33

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
72.0 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.51
Gender Split
58% female / 42% male
Age Distribution
<65: 39, 65-74: 153, 75-84: 109, 85+: 20

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Atorvastatin Calcium
389
Amlodipine Besylate
199
Rosuvastatin Calcium
174
Losartan Potassium
151
Omeprazole
133
Fluticasone Propionate
126
Levothyroxine Sodium
121
Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride
114
Hydrochlorothiazide
112
Metoprolol Succinate
111

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

Internal Medicine Physician Overview

How THEODORE BELSCHES, MD fits within the Internal Medicine Physician landscape nationally.

172,858
Internal Medicine Physician Providers in US
56
States with Internal Medicine Physician
2,716
Avg Claims per Provider

THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's 5,069 claims are above the specialty average of 2,716.

Nearby Internal Medicine Physician Providers in South Carolina

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

Compare Internal Medicine Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's specialty?
THEODORE BELSCHES, MD specializes in Internal Medicine Physician and practices in COLUMBIA, South Carolina. Credentials: MD.
How much does THEODORE BELSCHES, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, THEODORE BELSCHES, MD wrote 5,069 Medicare Part D claims totaling $603K in drug costs for 321 beneficiaries.
What is THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's Medicare quality score?
THEODORE BELSCHES, MD has a CMS MIPS Final Score of 99.3294/100 (Quality: 90.5979). The national average MIPS Final Score is 83.1. Source: CMS Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) 2023.
Where is THEODORE BELSCHES, MD located?
THEODORE BELSCHES, MD is located at 115 BLARNEY DR STE 108, COLUMBIA, SC, 29223. Phone: (803) 462-9200.
What is THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's NPI number?
THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1255674784, issued on 04/03/2013.
Does THEODORE BELSCHES, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's prescribing is 12% brand-name and 88% generic drugs by claim count, with $496K in brand drug costs.
Does THEODORE BELSCHES, MD prescribe opioids?
Yes, THEODORE BELSCHES, MD had 41 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 0.8%.
How many Internal Medicine Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 172,858 Internal Medicine Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Internal Medicine Physician provider writes 2,716 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does THEODORE BELSCHES, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Atorvastatin Calcium, Amlodipine Besylate, Rosuvastatin Calcium. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does THEODORE BELSCHES, MD accept Medicare?
THEODORE BELSCHES, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 5,069 Part D claims and 321 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's credentials?
THEODORE BELSCHES, MD's NPI is 1255674784 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