Medical Costs of Persons with Drug Use Disorders Among Medicaid Managed Care Beneficiaries in Puerto Rico : Comparison of the Direct Services Costs Incurred by Beneficiaries With and Without a Drug Use Disorder.

Drug use disorders (DUDs) can substantially increase the costs of health care, especially when left untreated. Yet, not much is known about the specific types of medical services that give rise to these cost differences. This study aimed to estimate the medical costs of beneficiaries with DUDs enrolled in the Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) program in Puerto Rico using claims data.

Productivity loss in Puerto Rico's labor market due to cancer mortality.

Background: In Puerto Rico (PR), cancer is the second leading cause of death and the disease that causes most premature deaths, representing about 15% of them. Thus, premature death due to cancer decreases the productivity capacity in PR.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the labor-market productivity loss in PR during 2004 as a result of premature mortality due to overall cancer and cause-specific cancers.