Trends in Opioid Use and Prescribing in Medicare, 2006–2012

Objective

To determine characteristics and trends in opioid use, questionable use, and prescribing in Medicare.

Study Setting

Opioid prescriptions filled through Medicare Part D for beneficiaries with full‐year, fee‐for‐service Medicare coverage during 2006 to 2012.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis of a 20 percent sample of Medicare claims data. Estimates are adjusted using multivariable regression analysis.

Data Collection

Opioid use, opioid abuse, questionable opioid use, and opioid prescribing by specialty.

Principal Findings

Opioid use in Medicare was stable from 2006 to 2012 on average. More than 1 in 3 beneficiaries filled an opioid prescription annually; about 1 in 10 were chronic opioid users. The distribution of opioid users shifted in favor of diagnoses often associated with chronic pain. Opioid users were increasingly likely to abuse opioids or display patterns of questionable use from 2006 to 2010, with a slowdown in later years. Average outcomes mask significant variation as the distribution of opioid use widened over the analysis period. Prescribing quantity and intensity varied by specialty. The largest quantity increases were among nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Conclusions

Opioid utilization and prescribing are increasingly heterogeneous from 2006 to 2012. Future research should focus on explaining differential trends in utilization and prescribing.