Prescriptions filled following an opioid-related hospitalization

Tami Leigh Mark; Sarah Naeger; Mir M. Ali; Ryan Mutter; Lauren Hughey; Tami L.  Mark

Prescriptions filled following an opioid-related hospitalization

Naeger, S., Ali, M. M., Mutter, R., Hughey, L., & Mark, T. (2016). Prescriptions filled following an opioid-related hospitalization. Psychiatric Services, 67(11), 1262-1264. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201500538

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Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of postdischarge prescription fills following an opioid-related hospitalization.

Methods: Using the 2010-2014 MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database, this analysis identified the percentage of patients (N=36,719) with an opioid-related inpatient admission who received substance use disorder treatment medications within 30 days of being discharged.

Results: Thirty-five percent of the sample did not have any prescription fills in the 30-day postdischarge period. Less than a quarter (16.7%) of patients received any FDA-approved opioid dependence medication in the 30 days following discharge. Forty percent of patients in the sample received antidepressants, 15.6% received antipsychotics, 13.9% filled a prescription for a benzodiazepine, and 22.4% filled a prescription for an opioid pain medication.

Conclusions: More effort is needed to ensure that patients hospitalized for opioid misuse are receiving recommended services.