Dr. Christopher P. Ames, MD

Dr. Ames practices at UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights in San Francisco, California, part of University of California Health.

Dr. Ames' NPI, 1265485155, was assigned on May 19, 2006. Dr. Ames graduated from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in 1994. Dr. Ames' California license number on file is A60247.

Dr. Ames' primary practice is UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights, at 505 Parnassus Ave, Box 0296, San Francisco, CA 94143 in San Francisco County. The practice phone is (415) 353-2733.

Dr. Ames' primary practice is UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights in San Francisco, California, part of University of California Health. The medical group on file is UCSF Pediatrics. Dmand AI also links Dr. Ames to 1 more group practice or clinic and 1 medical group, each named with a free account.

Dmand AI tracks the electronic health record (EHR) system at each site where Dr. Ames practices, 2 sites in all. Vendor and product names are available with a free account.

Neurological surgery is Dr. Ames' primary specialty in the NPI Registry, under taxonomy code 207T00000X. Dr. Ames is board certified in neurological surgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Dmand AI has Dr. Ames' licenses on file in 2 states: California and Arizona.

Dmand AI lists back and neck pain treatment without fusion, lower back pain, neck pain and spine problems, spinal fusion and thoracic spine disorders among the conditions Dr. Ames treats.

CMS data shows 1,464 Medicare services from Dr. Ames across 19 procedure codes in 2024, for 264 Medicare patients. Medicare paid $449,061 for them. Every service was in a facility, such as a hospital, rather than an office.

CMS counts 264 Medicare patients who saw Dr. Ames in 2024. The largest group is 65 to 74, with 141 patients. 75% of them have arthritis, and 75% have high blood pressure. 18% are also on Medicaid. Their average risk score is 1.46, where 1.00 is the Medicare average.

Across all payers, Dmand AI patient panel data puts Dr. Ames' median patient age at 67, with 47% women.

In 2024, Dr. Ames wrote 75 Medicare Part D claims for 27 patients. 91% of them were for generic drugs. CMS names the drug for 47 of them, across 3 drugs with 11 or more claims each, at $1,378 in total drug cost. In 2023, CMS named 87 claims across 3 drugs.

CMS publishes a Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) score of 87 out of 100 for Dr. Ames for performance year 2024, reported as part of a group. Dr. Ames accepts Medicare assignment, so Medicare's approved amount is taken as full payment. CMS lists Dr. Ames as offering telehealth. CMS counts 459 procedures of spinal fusion by Dr. Ames, more than 98% of the clinicians it reports for that procedure.

Dmand AI links 734 papers to Dr. Ames, published from 2004 to 2025. 2021 was the busiest year, with 52. The most frequent topics are Spinal Fusion, Postoperative Complications and Cervical Vertebrae. Dr. Ames has published most often in Spine (Phila Pa 1976). Dr. Ames' most frequent co-authors are Eric O. Klineberg, MD, Gregory Michael Mundis, MD and Douglas C. Burton, MD.

Dmand AI links Dr. Ames to 2 clinical trials. Conditions studied include Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Spondylolisthesis and Spinal Diseases.

CMS Open Payments shows 1,875 general payments to Dr. Ames from 35 drug and device companies from 2016 to 2025. Royalties and licenses make up the largest share, 78% of the total. DePuy Synthes Sales Inc. paid the most, $2,389,739. It also lists 6 research payments totaling $191,750 from 2016 to 2025.

Dmand AI lists 5 awards for Dr. Ames, most recently America's Top Doctors in 2016.

Dr. Ames graduated from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in 1994. Dr. Ames is a member of AANS and CNS.

Dr. Ames is in network with 8 carriers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Elevance. Medicare plans come from the most carriers, 7. Check the plan with the practice before a visit.