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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedFeder SL, Canavan ME, Wang S
Patterns of opioid prescribing among Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with pain and cardiopulmonary conditions.
This study’s objective was to compare patterns of opioid prescribing among older adults reporting pain with cardiopulmonary conditions, cancer, or both. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey resource linked to Medicare Part D prescription claims was used to identify patients who self-reported moderate- to-severe pain interference with daily activities. Patients included were stratified by 1) self-reported history of cardiopulmonary conditions; 2) were within five years of cancer diagnosis; 3) had both conditions; or 4) neither. Of 10,516 patients identified, 1758 had cardiopulmonary conditions, 3383 cancer, 2861 both, and 2514 neither: with 46% aged 75 or more, 65% non-Hispanic white, and 10% non-Hispanic black. At the time of the survey, 1627 (15.5%) received opioids. Adjusted proportions of opioid use were similar for all conditions, with 14% for cardiopulmonary conditions only, 17% with cancer only, and 17% for both conditions. Patients with neither condition had a 13.1% opioid use rate.
AHRQ-funded; HS022882; HS025164.
Citation: Feder SL, Canavan ME, Wang S .
Patterns of opioid prescribing among Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with pain and cardiopulmonary conditions.
J Palliat Med 2021 Feb;24(2):195-204. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0193..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Medicare
Romman AN, Hsu CM, Chou LN
Opioid prescribing to Medicare Part D enrollees, 2013-2017: shifting responsibility to pain management providers.
This study looked at trends in opioid prescribing frequency to Medicare Part D enrollees from 2013 to 2017 by medical specialty and provider type. The authors analyzed opioid claims and prescribing trends for specialties accounting for ≥1% of all opioid claims. Pain management specialists increased Medicare Part D opioid claims by 27.3% to 1,140 mean claims per provider in 2017. Physical medicine and rehabilitation providers increased claims by 16.9% to 511 mean claims per provider in 2017. All other medical specialties decreased opioid claims during this period, with emergency medicine decreasing the most (-19.9%) and orthopedic surgery (-16%) dropping opioid claims the most of all the other specialties. Overall physician decrease was -5.2%. However opioid claims among dentists (+5.6%) and nonphysician providers (+10.2%) increased during this period.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Romman AN, Hsu CM, Chou LN .
Opioid prescribing to Medicare Part D enrollees, 2013-2017: shifting responsibility to pain management providers.
Pain Med 2020 Nov 7;21(7):1400-07. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz344..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Medication, Medicare, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Practice Patterns
Axeen S
Trends in opioid use and prescribing in Medicare, 2006-2012.
The purpose of this study was to determine characteristics and trends in opioid use, questionable use, and prescribing in Medicare. The investigators conducted a retrospective analysis of a 20 percent sample of Medicare claims data. Estimates were adjusted using multivariable regression analysis. They found that opioid utilization and prescribing were increasingly heterogeneous from 2006 to 2012.
AHRQ-funded; HS024251.
Citation: Axeen S .
Trends in opioid use and prescribing in Medicare, 2006-2012.
Health Serv Res 2018 Oct;53(5):3309-28. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12846..
Keywords: Medicare, Medication, Opioids, Practice Patterns
Kuo YF, Raji MA, Liaw V
Opioid prescriptions in older Medicare beneficiaries after the 2014 federal rescheduling of hydrocodone products.
The authors sought to examine how an October 2014 Drug Enforcement Administration policy reclassified hydrocodone product from schedule III to II has affected older adults. They found that the 2014 change in hydrocodone from schedule III to schedule II was associated with modest decreases in rates of opioid use in the elderly. They also found an unexpected increase in opioid-related hospitalizations without documented opioid prescriptions, which may represent an increase in illegal use.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Kuo YF, Raji MA, Liaw V .
Opioid prescriptions in older Medicare beneficiaries after the 2014 federal rescheduling of hydrocodone products.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2018 May;66(5):945-53. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15332.
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Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Opioids, Policy, Practice Patterns