Lower Costs, Utilization With Abuse-Deterrent Formulation Opioid Use

When patients received abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) opioids, lower rates of opioid abuse, health care utilization, and medical costs were reported, according to recent analysis findings. The findings were presented at the AMCP Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting 2019.

“Limited evidence exists regarding the impact of [ADF] opioid utilization on health care resource use in real-world setting,” said lead author Teresa Green, and colleagues.

In order to compare rates of opioid abuse, utilization, and costs between managed Medicaid patients who take ADF extended-release opioids and non-ADF extended release opioids, Ms Green and her colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis. The research team observed participants who had at least one prescription claim for an extended-release opioid anytime between September 1, 2010 and September 30, 2016. Further, participants were included if they were enrolled for at least 180 days before and after the index extended-release opioid prescription. The researchers noted that patients with a past diagnosis of opioid abuse before the prescription was given was excluded from the study, and patients who switched between ADF and non-ADF extended release opioids were also excluded.

The research team identified 12,519 participants for the analysis, and the adjusted rate of opioid abuse diagnosis in the post-index period was 5.36% for the ADF cohort and 6.74% for the non-ADF cohort.

According to the findings, the health care utlization rates were lower for the ADF cohort vs the non-ADF cohort:

• all-cause hospitalization (7.76% vs 12.66%);
• opioid abuse related hospitalization (1.46% vs 2.21%);
• all-cause ED visit (32.48% vs 37.53%); and,
• opioid abuse related ED visit (0.34 vs 0.55%).

Further findings indicate that an increase in pharmacy costs was offset by medical cost reduction, and there was no significant difference in total all-cause health care costs.

“Use of ADF opioids was associated with lower rates of opioid abuse, health care utilization, and medical costs,” Ms Green and colleagues concluded. “Increased access to these products may present an opportunity to combat rising rates of opioid abuse and overdose.”—Julie Gould