Opioid Prescription Patterns in Hand Surgery: A Medicare Part D Analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Surgical Specialties
• Pain Management

Background:

• The opioid crisis is a major public health issue in the US.
• Postoperative prescriptions contribute to opioid misuse.
• Older adults are at higher risk for opioid-related adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze opioid prescribing patterns among hand surgeons treating Medicare patients.
• To identify national trends, regional variations, and gender differences in opioid prescriptions.
• To understand the impact of hand surgery on the opioid crisis in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of Medicare Part D data (2015-2019).
• Examined opioid prescribing rates, claim proportions, and prescription duration.
• Analyzed national, regional (US Census Bureau divisions), and state-level variations.
• Investigated gender disparities in prescribing practices.

Main Results:

• 1752 hand surgeons identified, with over 231,000 opioid claims annually.
• Opioid prescribing rates decreased from 61.4% to 55.3% between 2015 and 2019.
• Average prescription duration reduced from 6.3 to 4.67 days.
• Significant regional variations observed, with the South having higher prescription numbers and duration, while Midwest and West had higher claim proportions.

Conclusions:

• Opioid prescribing by hand surgeons for Medicare patients has declined.
• Persistent regional and gender-based variations in opioid prescribing require attention.
• Need for standardized guidelines, enhanced prescriber education, and integrated monitoring programs.