2026 NPPES data Family Medicine Physician NPI 1174506604 MD
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WALTER BUHL, MD

Family Medicine Physician in MILWAUKIE, 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
127
Medicare Part D claims · 28 beneficiaries · Family Medicine Physician avg: 3K
Generic prescribing
86%
generic claims · 14% brand-name · higher generic rates reduce patient out-of-pocket costs

What the federal data shows

WALTER BUHL, MD filed 127 Medicare Part D claims in 2023 as a Family Medicine Physician in MILWAUKIE, Oregon, prescribing 86% generic.

127
Part D claims, 2023
86%
generic prescribing

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.

WALTER BUHL, MD's Medicare Part D volume vs every U.S. prescriber

Total Medicare Part D claims, 2023 — across all CMS prescribers nationally

127 35th percentile higher than 35% of 1,370,886 prescribers

0–200: 670,926 prescribers (49%). This entry sits in this band. 200–400: 182,923 prescribers (13%). Above this entry. 400–600: 90,619 prescribers (7%). Above this entry. 600–800: 56,224 prescribers (4%). Above this entry. 800–1,000: 40,919 prescribers (3%). Above this entry. 1,000–1,200: 31,827 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,200–1,400: 26,224 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,400–1,600: 21,710 prescribers (2%). Above this entry. 1,600–1,800: 19,072 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 1,800–2,000: 16,451 prescribers (1%). Above this entry. 2,000–2,200: 213,991 prescribers (16%). Above this entry. This provider 0 2K+ every Part D prescriber (claims/yr), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more prescribers. 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 Medicare Part D Prescriber Public Use File · 2023

Board-eligible specialty (heuristic — not verified)

WALTER BUHL, MD practices in an ABMS-board-eligible specialty but we don't have enough CMS-participation signals to confirm active board-certified status. Consult CertificationMatters.org (the official ABMS public lookup).

What does the federal data show about WALTER BUHL, MD?

Quality data not reported

NPI registry status

Active

Issued 11/29/2005

NPI 1174506604

Primary specialty

Family Medicine Physician

High-volume

147,640 US NPIs in this specialty

Medicare Part D claims

127 96% vs specialty avg

2023 prescription claims

Specialty avg: 3,418

Specialty distribution in Oregon

How Family Medicine Physician compares to other specialties among Oregon providers

Oregon providers

Family Medicine Physician share within Oregon

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

Specialty board-certification context

Estimated specialty board-certified rate — Family Medicine Physician (ABMS / AOA reference)

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

Est. board-certified rate (Family Medicine Physician) — ABMS / AOA estimate

0%100%78%
Est. board-certified rate (Family Medicine 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).

WALTER BUHL, MD appears in the CMS NPPES registry as a Family Medicine Physician provider holding MD credentials at 3033 SE MONROE ST, MILWAUKIE, OR, 97222, with a listed phone of (503) 659-4988. NPI 1174506604 was issued on 11/29/2005. Because NPPES data is self-reported by the provider and refreshed monthly, the address, phone, and specialty reflect what BUHL 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 127 prescription claims written by this provider, covering 28 Medicare beneficiaries and totaling roughly $14K in drug spend, split 14% brand-name and 86% 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.

Family Medicine Physician is a high-volume specialty nationwide, with 147,640 enrolled providers across 56 states and an average of 3,418 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

3033 SE MONROE ST
MILWAUKIE, OR 97222

Provider Details

NPI 1174506604
Specialty Family Medicine Physician
Credentials MD
Gender Male
NPI Issued 11/29/2005

Brand vs generic prescribing mix · Typical

WALTER BUHL, MD — brand share 14.0%
Specialty average (est.)

14% brand-name claims vs 86% generic, on 127 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.

127
Total Claims
$14K
Total Drug Cost
28
Medicare Beneficiaries

Prescribing Breakdown

30-Day Fills
146
Total Day Supply
3,785
Brand vs Generic
14% brand / 86% generic
Brand Drug Cost
$12K
Generic Drug Cost
$2K

Patient Demographics

Average Patient Age
69.7 years
Avg HCC Risk Score
0.95
Gender Split
61% female / 39% male

Top Prescribed Drugs (Medicare Part D)

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

What WALTER BUHL, MD 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
Gabapentin
16
Eliquis
Apixaban
15
Metformin Hcl
13
Furosemide
12
Rizatriptan
Rizatriptan Benzoate
12

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

Family Medicine Physician Overview

How WALTER BUHL, MD fits within the Family Medicine Physician landscape nationally.

147,640
Family Medicine Physician Providers in US
56
States with Family Medicine Physician
3,418
Avg Claims per Provider

WALTER BUHL, MD's 127 claims are below the specialty average of 3,418.

Nearby Family Medicine Physician Providers in Oregon

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is WALTER BUHL, MD's specialty?
WALTER BUHL, MD specializes in Family Medicine Physician and practices in MILWAUKIE, Oregon. Credentials: MD.
How much does WALTER BUHL, MD prescribe under Medicare Part D?
In 2023, WALTER BUHL, MD wrote 127 Medicare Part D claims totaling $14K in drug costs for 28 beneficiaries.
Where is WALTER BUHL, MD located?
WALTER BUHL, MD is located at 3033 SE MONROE ST, MILWAUKIE, OR, 97222. Phone: (503) 659-4988.
What is WALTER BUHL, MD's NPI number?
WALTER BUHL, MD's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1174506604, issued on 11/29/2005.
Does WALTER BUHL, MD prescribe more brand-name or generic drugs?
WALTER BUHL, MD's prescribing is 14% brand-name and 86% generic drugs by claim count, with $12K in brand drug costs.
How many Family Medicine Physician providers are there in the US?
There are 147,640 Family Medicine Physician providers across 56 states in the US. The average Family Medicine Physician provider writes 3,418 Medicare Part D claims per year.
What drugs does WALTER BUHL, MD prescribe most often?
Based on 2023 Medicare Part D data, WALTER BUHL, MD's most frequently prescribed drugs include Gabapentin, Eliquis, Metformin Hcl. This reflects Medicare Part D prescriptions only and does not include commercial insurance or other payer types.
Does WALTER BUHL, MD accept Medicare?
WALTER BUHL, MD appears in CMS Medicare data with 127 Part D claims and 28 Medicare beneficiaries in 2023. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm current Medicare enrollment and accepted plans.
How can I verify WALTER BUHL, MD's credentials?
WALTER BUHL, MD's NPI is 1174506604 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.
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