The Concentration of Opioid Prescriptions by Providers and Among Patients in the Oregon Medicaid Program.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study examined the distribution of opioid prescribing across providers and patients and the extent to which concentrated distribution predicts opioid misuse.

Methods

Using 2013 Oregon Medicaid claims and the National Provider Identifier Registry, this study identified patients who filled at least one opioid prescription and providers who prescribed opioids for those patients (N=61,477 Medicaid beneficiaries). This study examined the distribution of opioid prescriptions by provider and patient, the extent to which high-volume opioid use was associated with potential opioid misuse, and how this association changed when patients received opioids from providers in the top decile of morphine-equivalent doses (MEQ) prescribed in 2013. This study used four indicators

SUBMITTER: Kim H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4912042 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature