Medicare Letters To Curb Overprescribing Of Controlled Substances Had No Detectable Effect On Providers.
Health Aff (Millwood)
; 35(3): 471-9, 2016 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26953302
ABSTRACT
Inappropriate prescribing is a rising threat to the health of Medicare beneficiaries and a drain on Medicare's finances. In this study we used a randomized controlled trial approach to evaluate a low-cost, light-touch intervention aimed at reducing the inappropriate provision of Schedule II controlled substances in the Medicare Part D program. Potential overprescribers were sent a letter explaining that their practice patterns were highly unlike those of their peers. Using rich administrative data, we were unable to detect an effect of these letters on prescribing. We describe ongoing efforts to build on this null result with alternative interventions. Learning about the potential of light-touch interventions, both effective and ineffective, will help produce a better toolkit for policy makers to improve the value and safety of health care.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Health Care Costs
/
Medicare Part D
/
Inappropriate Prescribing
/
Controlled Substances
Type of study:
Observational_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Health Aff (Millwood)
Year:
2016
Document type:
Article