Prescriptions Filled Following an Opioid-Related Hospitalization

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of postdischarge prescription fills following an opioid-related hospitalization. Methods: Using the 2010-2014 MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database, this analysis identified the percentage of patients (N=36,719) with an opioid-related inpatient admission who received substance use disorder treatment medications within 30 days of being discharged. Results: Thirty-five percent of the sample did not have any prescription fills in the 30-day postdischarge period. Less than a quarter (16.7%) of patients received any FDA-approved opioid dependence medication in the 30 days following discharge. Forty percent of patients in the sample received antidepressants, 15.6% received antipsychotics, 13.9% filled a prescription for a benzodiazepine, and 22.4% filled a prescription for an opioid pain medication. Conclusions: More effort is needed to ensure that patients hospitalized for opioid misuse are receiving recommended services.