Prescriber Checkup
The Doctors and Drugs in Medicare Part D
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WILLIAM BRELSFORD MD, FACP, FACR
At A Glance: This Prescriber in 2015
Self-Reported Primary Specialty
Rank: 6 out of 268
Rank: 26 out of 268
How Does This Prescriber Compare to Peers?
In the same specialty and state. Caveats »
this specialty
in Texas lower than average
Antipsychotics
This provider prescribed antipsychotics to at least one but fewer than 11 patients who are 65 and older, so Medicare redacted the exact figure. Comparisons are not shown.
Antibiotics
9% of this provider’s 759 patients filled at least one prescription for an antibiotic drug, compared to an average of 6%.
Risky Drugs for Seniors
8% of this provider’s 573 patients 65 and older filled at least one prescription for a potentially inappropriate drug, compared to an average of 9%.
Opioids
52% of this provider’s 759 patients filled at least one prescription for an opioid, compared to an average of 27%.
Brand Name Drugs
20% of this provider’s prescriptions were for brand-name drugs, compared to an average of 22%.
Prescription Price
$202 was the average price of a prescription from this provider, compared to $317 among peers.
Prescriptions per Patient
14 is the average number of prescriptions (including refills) per patient, compared to an average of 9.
How This Provider’s Patients Compare
Doctors often say their patients are sicker or more complex than those of their peers. The measure displayed below, used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, takes into account patients’ characteristics to estimate whether they are expected to have above-average Medicare spending. It considers patients’ age, sex, diagnoses from the past year and other factors. This provider’s score below takes into account all patients.
This Provider's History
A comparison of this provider’s prescribing in Part D since 2012. All years may not be shown if there is insufficient data.
Cost of Claims
$762K
2012
$1.44M
2013
$1.93M
2014
$2.15M
2015
Number of Claims
6,587
2012
9,752
2013
11,150
2014
10,642
2015
This Prescriber's Drugs
The table below list this provider’s drugs, the number of prescriptions and how many went to seniors. Drugs are ranked by volume and compared with the rank for all providers in the same specialty and state. The list below includes only those drugs for which this provider wrote 50 or more prescriptions.
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An opioid drug. More » Prescription opioids (painkillers) can help alleviate certain kinds of pain in the short term but carry serious health risks.
An antibiotic drug. More » Used to treat bacterial infections but are often prescribed incorrectly to treat viral infections, such as chest colds or the flu.
An antipsychotic drug. More » Antipsychotics are frequently given to dementia patients, though it increases their risk of death.
A risky drug for seniors. More » The American Geriatrics Society has said this drug is "potentially dangerous" for seniors and might be inappropriate.
This provider is among the top 10 prescribers of this drug in the country.
This provider’s prescriptions for this drug were for more days than those of peers. More » Because of this, his or her prescription count may be lower.
This provider’s prescriptions for this drug were for fewer days than those of peers. More » Because of this, his or her prescription count may be higher.
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This Drug's Rank
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Name | Total Prescriptions Filled with Refills |
Prescriptions to 65+ |
Patients Receiving this Drug | Category | For this Prescriber | For this Prescriber's Peers |
|
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Used to relieve moderate to... + Used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Source: National Library of Medicine |
1,234
prescriptions, 12% of all prescriptions |
696
prescriptions. |
188
patients, 25% of all patients |
O | 1 | 5 |
|
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE SULFATE
Hydroxychloroquine is in a ... + Hydroxychloroquine is in a class of drugs called antimalarials. Source: National Library of Medicine |
928
prescriptions, 9% of all prescriptions |
669
prescriptions. |
196
patients, 26% of all patients |
2 | 3 | |
|
PREDNISONE
Treats inflammation (swelli... + Treats inflammation (swelling), severe allergies, complications of chronic illnesses, and other medical problems. Source: National Library of Medicine |
620
prescriptions, 6% of all prescriptions |
424
prescriptions. |
153
patients, 20% of all patients |
3 | 1 | |
|
METHOTREXATE
Treats several kinds of can... + Treats several kinds of cancer, including cancer of the blood, bone, lung, breast, head, or neck. Source: National Library of Medicine |
550
prescriptions, 5% of all prescriptions |
404
prescriptions. |
134
patients, 18% of all patients |
4 | 2 | |
|
MELOXICAM
Treats symptoms of osteoart... + Treats symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). Source: National Library of Medicine |
471
prescriptions, 4% of all prescriptions |
309
prescriptions. |
107
patients, 14% of all patients |
5 | 9 | |
|
LEFLUNOMIDE
Treats rheumatoid arthritis... + Treats rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Source: National Library of Medicine |
460
prescriptions, 4% of all prescriptions |
267
prescriptions. |
88
patients, 12% of all patients |
6 | 7 | |
|
GABAPENTIN
Treats certain types of sei... + Treats certain types of seizures. Source: National Library of Medicine |
427
prescriptions, 4% of all prescriptions |
290
prescriptions. |
95
patients, 13% of all patients |
7 | 6 | |
|
TRAMADOL HCL
Tramadol is used to relieve... + Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. Source: National Library of Medicine |
371
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
256
prescriptions. |
99
patients, 13% of all patients |
O | 8 | 4 |
|
FENTANYL
Treats severe, ongoing pain... + Treats severe, ongoing pain (during and after surgery, cancer pain) that cannot be controlled with other medicines. Source: National Library of Medicine |
361
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
180
prescriptions. |
52
patients, 7% of all patients |
O | 9 | 40 |
|
MORPHINE SULFATE
Morphine is used to relieve... + Morphine is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Source: National Library of Medicine |
273
prescriptions, 3% of all prescriptions |
172
prescriptions. |
155
patients, 20% of all patients |
O | 10 | 84 |
|
OMEPRAZOLE
Treats heartburn, stomach u... + Treats heartburn, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and conditions that cause your stomach to make too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, endocrine tumors, and systemic mastocytosis. Source: National Library of Medicine |
238
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
167
prescriptions. |
59
patients, 8% of all patients |
11 | 20 | |
|
LYRICA
Treats nerve and muscle pai... + Treats nerve and muscle pain caused by diabetes, shingles, fibromyalgia, or a spinal cord injury. Source: National Library of Medicine |
231
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
85
prescriptions. |
42
patients, 6% of all patients |
12 | 12 | |
|
ALENDRONATE SODIUM
Alendronate is used to trea... + Alendronate is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause (''change of life,'' end of menstrual periods) and to treat osteoporosis in men. Source: National Library of Medicine |
185
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
158
prescriptions. |
34
patients, 4% of all patients |
13 | 11 | |
|
ENBREL
Treats rheumatoid arthritis... + Treats rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis in adults. Source: National Library of Medicine |
169
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
137
prescriptions. |
27
patients, 4% of all patients |
14 | 10 | |
|
ALPRAZOLAM
Treats anxiety, panic disor... + Treats anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia (trouble sleeping), and anxiety caused by depression. Source: National Library of Medicine |
162
prescriptions, 2% of all prescriptions |
82
prescriptions. |
23
patients, 3% of all patients |
15 | 27 | |
|
TIZANIDINE HCL
Tizanidine is used to relie... + Tizanidine is used to relieve the spasms and increased muscle tone caused by multiple sclerosis (MS, a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and patients may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control), stroke, or brain or spinal injury. Source: National Library of Medicine |
156
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
76
prescriptions. |
38
patients, 5% of all patients |
16 | 19 | |
|
CELECOXIB
Treats mild to moderate pai... + Treats mild to moderate pain and help relieve symptoms of arthritis (e. Source: National Library of Medicine |
153
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
112
prescriptions. |
46
patients, 6% of all patients |
17 | 14 | |
|
TOPIRAMATE
Helps control and prevent c... + Helps control and prevent certain kinds of seizures. Source: National Library of Medicine |
150
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
104
prescriptions. |
50
patients, 7% of all patients |
18 | 64 | |
|
NAPROXEN
Treats fever and pain, incl... + Treats fever and pain, including pain caused by arthritis, gout, menstrual cramps, tendinitis, headache, backache, and toothache. Source: National Library of Medicine |
148
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
85
prescriptions. |
40
patients, 5% of all patients |
19 | 30 | |
|
MORPHINE SULFATE ER
Morphine (extended release)... + Morphine (extended release) is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Source: National Library of Medicine |
147
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
73
prescriptions. |
23
patients, 3% of all patients |
O | 20 | 61 |
|
CARISOPRODOL
Treats pain and stiffness o... + Treats pain and stiffness of muscle spasms. Source: National Library of Medicine |
145
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
47
prescriptions. |
23
patients, 3% of all patients |
R | 21 | 49 |
|
DULOXETINE HCL
Duloxetine is used to treat... + Duloxetine is used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; excessive worry and tension that disrupts daily life and lasts for 6 months or longer). Source: National Library of Medicine |
142
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
100
prescriptions. |
22
patients, 3% of all patients |
22 | 8 | |
|
OXYCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Used to relieve moderate to... + Used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Source: National Library of Medicine |
111
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
64
prescriptions. |
17
patients, 2% of all patients |
O | 23 | 66 |
|
ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE
Zolpidem is used to treat i... + Zolpidem is used to treat insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). Source: National Library of Medicine |
103
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
53
prescriptions. |
25
patients, 3% of all patients |
R | 24 | 24 |
|
TRIAMTERENE-HYDROCHLOROTHIAZID
Used to treat high blood pr... + Used to treat high blood pressure and edema (fluid retention; excess fluid held in body tissues) in patients who have lower amounts of potassium in their bodies or for whom low potassium levels in the body could be dangerous. Source: National Library of Medicine |
93
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
47
prescriptions. |
17
patients, 2% of all patients |
25 | 97 | |
|
RALOXIFENE HCL
Raloxifene is used to preve... + Raloxifene is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis (condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) in women who have undergone menopause (change of life; end of menstrual periods). Source: National Library of Medicine |
84
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
79
prescriptions. |
13
patients, 2% of all patients |
26 | 90 | |
| METHOTREXATE SODIUM |
81
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
49
prescriptions. |
43
patients, 6% of all patients |
27 | 63 | |
|
CLONAZEPAM
Treats seizures, panic diso... + Treats seizures, panic disorder, and anxiety. Source: National Library of Medicine |
81
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
63
prescriptions. |
13
patients, 2% of all patients |
27 | 39 | |
|
IBUPROFEN
Treats fever and pain, incl... + Treats fever and pain, including pain caused by headache, toothache, arthritis, cold or flu, migraine, or menstrual cramps. Source: National Library of Medicine |
81
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
54
prescriptions. |
18
patients, 2% of all patients |
27 | 46 | |
|
TEMAZEPAM
Treats insomnia (trouble sl... + Treats insomnia (trouble sleeping). Source: National Library of Medicine |
74
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
35
prescriptions. |
17
patients, 2% of all patients |
30 | 69 | |
|
SULFASALAZINE
Treats ulcerative colitis. ... + Treats ulcerative colitis. Source: National Library of Medicine |
68
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
41
prescriptions. |
14
patients, 2% of all patients |
31 | 15 | |
|
OXYCODONE HCL
Oxycodone is used to reliev... + Oxycodone is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Source: National Library of Medicine |
61
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
31
prescriptions. |
<11 | O | 32 | 89 |
|
LEVOTHYROXINE SODIUM
Levothyroxine, a thyroid ho... + Levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone, is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Source: National Library of Medicine |
59
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
42
prescriptions. |
12
patients, 2% of all patients |
33 | 25 | |
|
AZATHIOPRINE
Prevents your body from rej... + Prevents your body from rejecting a kidney transplant. Source: National Library of Medicine |
59
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
26
prescriptions. |
12
patients, 2% of all patients |
33 | 26 | |
|
DOXYCYCLINE MONOHYDRATE
Used to treat bacterial inf... + Used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. Source: National Library of Medicine |
54
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
25
prescriptions. |
13
patients, 2% of all patients |
A | 35 | 123 |
|
PROMETHAZINE HCL
Promethazine is used to rel... + Promethazine is used to relieve the symptoms of allergic reactions such as allergic rhinitis (runny nose and watery eyes caused by allergy to pollen, mold or dust), allergic conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes caused by allergies), allergic skin reactions, and allergic reactions to blood or plasma products. Source: National Library of Medicine |
54
prescriptions, 1% of all prescriptions |
5
prescriptions. |
13
patients, 2% of all patients |
R | 35 | 135 |
| XELJANZ |
51
prescriptions, 0% of all prescriptions |
5
prescriptions. |
<11 | 37 | 34 | |
About This Data
Prescribing data from Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, known as Part D, was compiled and released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that oversees the program. The data for 2015 includes more than 1.4 billion prescriptions written by nearly 1.4 million doctors, nurses and other providers. This database lists about 447,000 of those providers who wrote 50 or more prescriptions for at least one drug that year. More than three-fourths of these prescriptions went to patients 65 and older; the rest were for disabled patients. Methodology »
Incorrect Info?
If you are a provider and you believe your address is incorrect, check the listing you created on the National Provider Identifier registry. If you change your listing, send a note to [email protected] and we will update your information. If you have other questions about this data, send a note to [email protected].
Caveats
- No comparisons are shown if there are fewer than 20 prescribers in the state share this specialty.
- Comparisons do not take into account the medical conditions of patients. Medications for certain conditions do not have generic alternatives, so patients would receive more expensive brand name drugs.
- This provider's address and specialty information was last updated on Jan. 26, 2012.
- Comparisons are based on each provider’s current address, not necessarily where he or she worked during the time period covered in this database.
- In rare circumstances, providers' prescription tallies may be inflated. Sometimes providers are credited with prescriptions written by colleagues (this happens in long-term care facilities) or are victims of fraud involving theft of their provider number.