Association Between Payer Type and Risk of Persistent Opioid Use After Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the risk of persistent opioid use after surgery varies by payer type. BACKGROUND: Persistent opioid use is associated with increased health care utilization and risk of opioid use disorder, opioid overdose, and mortality. Most research assessing the risk of persistent opioid use has focused on privately insured patients. Whether this risk varies by payer type is poorly understood. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis of the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative database examined adults aged 18 to 64 years undergoing surgical procedures across 70 hospitals between January 1, 2017 and October 31, 2019. The primary outcome was persistent opioid use, defined a priori as 1+ opioid prescription fulfillment at (1) an additional opioid prescription fulfillment after an initial postoperative fulfillment in the perioperative period or at least 1 fulfillment in the 4 to 90 days after discharge and (2) at least 1 opioid prescription fulfillment in the 91 to 180 days after discharge. The association between this outcome and payer type was evaluated using logistic regression, adjusting for patient and procedure characteristics. RESULTS: Among 40,071 patients included, the mean age was 45.3 years (SD 12.3), 24,853 (62%) were female, 9430 (23.5%) were Medicaid-insured, 26,760 (66.8%) were privately insured, and 3889 (9.7%) were covered by other payer types. The rate of POU was 11.5% and 5.6% for Medicaid-insured and privately insured patients, respectively (average marginal effect for Medicaid: 2.9% (95% CI 2.3%-3.6%)). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent opioid use remains common among individuals undergoing surgery and higher among patients with Medicaid insurance. Strategies to optimize postoperative recovery should focus on adequate pain management for all patients and consider tailored pathways for those at risk.

Effect of Best Practice Alert (BPA) on Post-Discharge Opioid Prescribing After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy: A Quality Improvement Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the effectiveness of an electronic health record best practice alert (BPA) in decreasing gynecologic post-discharge opioid prescribing following benign minimally invasive hysterectomy. Patients and Methods: The BPA triggered for opioid orders >15 tablets. Prescribers' options included (1) decrease to 15 ≤ tablets; (2) remove the order/utilize a defaulted order set; or (3) override the alert. Results: 332 patients were included. The BPA triggered 29 times. The following actions were taken among 16 patients for whom the BPA triggered: "override the alert" (n=13); "cancel the alert" (n=2); and 'remove the opioid order set' (n=1). 12/16 patients had discharge prescriptions: one patient received 20 tablets; two received 10 tablets; and nine received 15 tablets. Top reasons for over prescribing included concerns for pain control and lack of alternatives. Conclusion: Implementing a post-discharge opioid prescribing BPA aligned opioid prescribing following benign minimally invasive hysterectomy with guideline recommendations.