2026 NPPES data Medical Oncology Physician NPI 1851313993 M.D.
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VETTA HIGGS, M.D.

Medical Oncology Physician in SALEM, Oregon. 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
596
Medicare Part D claims · 126 beneficiaries · Medical Oncology Physician avg: 689
Generic prescribing
85%
generic claims · 15% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs
Industry payments
$21.82
1 payments · CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act)
What the federal data reveals: VETTA HIGGS, M.D. is a Medical Oncology Physician ([object Object]) practicing in SALEM, Oregon with a Medicare Part D prescribing footprint of 596 claims across 126 beneficiaries — 15% brand-name prescribing . Industry payments of $21.82 across 1 transactions are disclosed under CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act).

What stands out: VETTA HIGGS, M.D. filed 596 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 across SALEM, Oregon. Every figure on this page comes straight from federal CMS records, with no proprietary rating applied.

Board certification likely (heuristic — not verified)

VETTA HIGGS, M.D. practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty and shows active CMS Medicare participation + 2 hospital affiliations — signals consistent with board-certified status. For verified board certification, see CertificationMatters.org (the official ABMS public lookup).

VETTA HIGGS, M.D. at a glance

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 07/25/2006

NPI 1851313993

Primary specialty

Medical Oncology Physician

Niche

3,792 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

596 13% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 689

Specialty distribution in Oregon

How Medical Oncology Physician compares to other specialties among Oregon providers

Oregon providers

Medical Oncology Physician share within Oregon

1. Medical Oncology Physician42%2. Internal medicine21%3. Family medicine17%4. Surgical12%5. Pediatric8%
Medical Oncology Physician share within Oregon

Specialty board-certification context

Estimated specialty board-certified rate — Medical Oncology Physician (ABMS / AOA reference)

Quality data not reported
Est. board-certified rate
78%
Medical Oncology Physician ABMS/AOA estimate

Est. board-certified rate (Medical Oncology Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Medical Oncology Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

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).

VETTA HIGGS, M.D. is a Medical Oncology Physician provider practicing in SALEM, Oregon, according to the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). Credentials: M.D.. NPI: 1851313993. 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.

VETTA HIGGS, M.D. appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Medical Oncology Physician provider holding M.D. credentials at 875 OAK ST SE STE 4030, SALEM, OR, 97301, with a listed phone of (503) 561-6444. NPI 1851313993 was issued on 07/25/2006. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what HIGGS 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 596 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 126 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $903K in drug spend, split 15% brand-name and 85% generic by claim count, with an opioid prescribing rate of 6.2%. 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.

Medical Oncology Physician is a narrow specialty nationwide, with 3,792 enrolled providers across 53 states and an average of 689 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

875 OAK ST SE STE 4030
SALEM, OR 97301

Provider Details

NPI 1851313993
Specialty Medical Oncology Physician
Credentials M.D.
Gender Female
NPI Issued 07/25/2006

Hospital and facility affiliations

Facilities where VETTA HIGGS, M.D. 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.

CANTON-POTSDAM HOSPITAL
★★☆☆☆ 2/5
POTSDAM, NY
Acute Care Hospitals
CMS CCN: 330197
OREGON ONCOLOGY SPECIALISTS LLP
SALEM, OR

Affiliations sourced from CMS Doctors and Clinicians National Downloadable File; hospital ratings from CMS Hospital General Information dataset (cross-referenced by facility name + state).

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 VETTA HIGGS, M.D.. Source: openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

Total received

$22

Largest payer

ABBVIE 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

VETTA HIGGS, M.D. — brand share 15.0%
Specialty average (est.)

15% brand-name claims vs 85% generic, on 596 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.

596
Total Claims
$903K
Total Drug Cost
126
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
882
Total Day Supply
21,848
Brand vs Generic
15% brand / 85% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$847K
Generic Drug Cost
$56K
Opioid Claims
37 (6.2% rate)
Antibiotic Claims
44

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
71.7 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
1.94
Gender Split
63% female / 37% male

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

Drug Claims
Letrozole
61
Anastrozole
47
Ondansetron Odt
Ondansetron
43
Loperamide
Loperamide Hcl
29
Prochlorperazine Maleate
29
Dexamethasone
27
Xarelto
Rivaroxaban
25
Acyclovir
24
Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim
Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim
21
Fluconazole
20

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

Medical Oncology Physician Overview

How VETTA HIGGS, M.D. fits within the Medical Oncology Physician landscape nationally.

3,792
Medical Oncology Physician Providers in US
53
States with Medical Oncology Physician
689
Avg Claims per Provider

VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s 596 claims are below the specialty average of 689.

Nearby Medical Oncology Physician Providers in Oregon

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

Compare Medical Oncology Physician nationally: see state-by-state distribution →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s specialty?
VETTA HIGGS, M.D. specializes in Medical Oncology Physician and practices in SALEM, Oregon. Credentials: M.D..
How much does VETTA HIGGS, M.D. prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, VETTA HIGGS, M.D. wrote 596 Medicare Part D claims totaling $903K in drug costs for 126 beneficiaries.
Where is VETTA HIGGS, M.D. located?
VETTA HIGGS, M.D. is located at 875 OAK ST SE STE 4030, SALEM, OR, 97301. Phone: (503) 561-6444.
What is VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s NPI number?
VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1851313993, issued on 07/25/2006.
Does VETTA HIGGS, M.D. prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s prescribing is 15% brand-name and 85% generic drugs by claim count, with $847K in brand drug costs.
Does VETTA HIGGS, M.D. prescribe opioids?
Yes, VETTA HIGGS, M.D. had 37 opioid claims in 2023 with an opioid prescribing rate of 6.2%.
How many Medical Oncology Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 3,792 Medical Oncology Physician providers across 53 states in the US. The average Medical Oncology Physician provider writes 689 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does VETTA HIGGS, M.D. prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s most frequently prescribed drugs include Letrozole, Anastrozole, Ondansetron Odt. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does VETTA HIGGS, M.D. accept Medicare?
VETTA HIGGS, M.D. appears in CMS Medicare data with 596 Part D claims and 126 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s credentials?
VETTA HIGGS, M.D.'s NPI is 1851313993 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.
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