Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Study

Medicare letters to curb overprescribing of controlled substances had no detectable effect on providers.

Sacarny A, Yokum D, Finkelstein A, et al. Medicare Letters To Curb Overprescribing Of Controlled Substances Had No Detectable Effect On Providers. Health Aff (Millwood). 2016;35(3):471-9. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1025.

Save
Print
March 23, 2016
Sacarny A, Yokum D, Finkelstein A, et al. Health Aff (Millwood). 2016;35(3):471-9.
View more articles from the same authors.
Overprescribing of opioids is a serious and worsening problem. In the United States, deaths from opioid overdoses have more than quadrupled over the past decade. Providing peer comparisons has been shown to reduce other instances of medical care overuse, such as inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. In this study, health care providers who very frequently prescribed Schedule II controlled substances (the highest risk category for which a prescription is still legal) were randomized to receive a letter showing their prescription practices compared to their peers. There was no evidence that the letters had any impact on prescribing behaviors. The authors describe ongoing efforts to redesign the letters with the hope to enhance their influence on physicians. A past WebM&M commentary discussed best practices for opioid prescribing.
Save
Print
Cite
Citation

Sacarny A, Yokum D, Finkelstein A, et al. Medicare Letters To Curb Overprescribing Of Controlled Substances Had No Detectable Effect On Providers. Health Aff (Millwood). 2016;35(3):471-9. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1025.

Related Resources From the Same Author(s)
Related Resources