Purpose: Determine whether opioid prescribing patterns have changed as a result of implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) in the state of Massachusetts.
Materials And Methods: A multicentered retrospective study was performed including patients who received tonsillectomy, parotidectomy, thyroidectomy or direct laryngoscopy and biopsy with or without rigid esophagoscopy and/or rigid bronchoscopy at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (Burlington, MA) or Boston Medical Center (Boston, MA). Opioid prescribing patterns were compared for the 12 months prior to implementation of the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool (MassPAT) to 36 months of prescribing patterns post implementation. Quantity of opioids prescribed was based on morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Continuous variables were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) while categorical variables were compared using chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. Multivariate analysis was performed using linear regression.
Results: A total of 2281 patients were included in the study. There was a significant association in mean overall MME prescribed comparing pre-MassPAT and post-MassPAT data [tonsillectomy: 635.9 ± 175.6 vs 463.3 ± 177.7 (p < 0.0001), parotidectomy: 250.4 ± 71.33 vs 169.8 ± 79.26 (p < 0.0001), thyroidectomy: 186.2 ± 81.14 vs 118.3 ± 88.79 (p < 0.0001), direct laryngoscopy with biopsy: 308.3 ± 246.9 vs 308.3 ± 246.9 (p = 0.0201)]. There was also a significant association between length of opioid prescription (days) and implementation of MassPAT, but there was no significant difference in the percent of patients requiring refills pre- MassPAT and post-MassPAT.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that prescribers have been able to significantly decrease the amount of opioids prescribed for tonsillectomy, parotidectomy, thyroidectomy, and direct laryngoscopy and biopsy and patients have not required additional opioid refills.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103262 | DOI Listing |
JAMA Health Forum
January 2025
Department of Health Systems, Management, and Policy, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora.
Importance: Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are designed to incentivize the use of less expensive drugs through capitated payments, formulary control, and preauthorizations for certain drugs. These conditions may reduce spending on high-cost therapies for conditions such as cancer, a condition that is among the most expensive to treat.
Objective: To determine whether patients insured by MA plans receive less high-cost drugs than those insured by traditional Medicare (TM).
Med Care
February 2025
Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases & Global Health, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Background: Restrictive Medicaid policies regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment may exacerbate rural health care disparities for people who use drugs (PWUD). We assessed associations between Medicaid restrictions and HCV treatment among rural PWUD.
Methods: We compiled state-specific Medicaid treatment policies across 8 US rural sites in 10 states and merged these with participant survey data.
Obes Sci Pract
February 2025
Found Health, Inc. Austin Texas USA.
Background: Virtually-delivered obesity care has the potential to increase access to weight loss interventions at scale. While there is ample literature assessing various weight loss interventions, studies specifically demonstrating outcomes of commercial programs offering antiobesity medications in virtual care settings are lacking.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed the weight loss outcomes of 66,094 participants in a virtual weight care program that prescribes antiobesity medications alongside a digital behavior change program.
Int Breastfeed J
January 2025
Instutite of Health Sciences, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Background: The use of Complementary Medicine Products (CMPs) has been increasing worldwide, including among breastfeeding mothers. This study aims to investigate the reasons and associated factors of CMP use among breastfeeding mothers in Turkey, alongside their attitudes and experiences.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered, anonymous online survey between 17 December 2023 and 17 March 2024.
BMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
Background: Delayed prescription is a strategy used in various countries to reduce antibiotic overuse and contend the effects of antibiotic resistance; however this practice is not yet used in Switzerland. The present qualitative study was thus conducted to investigate Swiss patients' attitudes towards the possible implementation of delayed prescription.
Method: Five focus groups with the general population based on a fixed script of questions to elicit opinions on delayed prescription.
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