Benjamin Paulson, M.D.
Benjamin Paulson, M.D. is a Surgery of the Hand (Surgery) Physician in Des Moines, IA, registered under NPI 1184864340. This provider registers 2 separate taxonomy codes, which usually means they practise across more than one recognised specialty.
Getting there
The practice address on file is 450 LAUREL ST STE A, Des Moines, IA 50314. We have not yet mapped what surrounds this office — parking, transit, and nearby pharmacies are added as our data collection reaches each location.
Credentials and Medicare
| Licence | State | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| 39061 | IA | Surgery of the Hand (Surgery) Physician primary |
This provider holds licence 39061 issued in IA. A licence number in NPPES reflects what was filed at registration — it does not confirm the licence is still active today.
- Status
- Approved
- Provider type
- Practitioner - Orthopedic Surgery
- PAC ID
- 3971628298
- Enrollment ID
- I20100909001217
Medicare enrolment is recorded as approved under the provider type Practitioner - Orthopedic Surgery. Being enrolled means the provider can bill Medicare; it does not tell you whether they are currently accepting new Medicare patients. Call the office to confirm.
What Surgery of the Hand covers
A surgeon with expertise in the investigation, preservation and restoration by medical, surgical and rehabilitative means, of all structures of the upper extremity directly affecting the form and function of the hand and wrist. NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy, code 2086S0105X
All registered taxonomy codes
This provider registers 2 taxonomy codes. The primary code is what appears on most claims; the others record additional recognised specialties.
| Code | Specialty | Licence | State | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2086S0105X | Surgery of the Hand (Surgery) Physician Surgery of the Hand | 39061 | IA | primary |
| 390200000X | Student in an Organized Health Care Education/Training Program | — | — |
The taxonomy records how the provider classifies their own practice. It does not confirm which conditions they currently treat, whether they are accepting new patients, or which insurance they take — call the office for that.
Full NPPES record
An NPI-1 identifies a single person. It stays with the clinician for life, even if they move practice or change state, which is why the address on file can lag behind where they actually work today.
| NPI | 1184864340 valid check digit |
|---|---|
| Entity type | Individual (NPI-1) |
| Enumeration date | Mar 2, 2009 |
| Last updated | Nov 19, 2025 |
| Status | Active |
| Sole proprietor | No |
| Credential | M.D. |
| Practice address |
450 LAUREL ST STE A Des Moines, IA 50314 (515) 247-8400 Fax (515) 248-8888 |
Number check
How the check works, step by step
Every NPI carries a Luhn check digit — the same scheme used on credit cards. CMS prefixes the number with 80840 before computing it, which marks it as a US health identifier.
| Digit | 8 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doubled? | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 |
| Value | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 8 |
Sum = 70 · next multiple of 10 = 70 · check digit = 0 · actual last digit = 0
A valid check digit only means the number is well-formed. It does not mean the provider is licensed, active, or in good standing — those are separate questions answered by the sections above.