Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Among Adults with Disabilities After a Medicare Opioid Limit Policy.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Determine whether a Medicare 7-day limit on initial opioid prescriptions (effective January 1, 2019) was associated with reductions in duration, dosage, and subsequent opioid fills among post-operative adults with disabilities.

Background

Post-operative adults with disabilities are at increased risk for uncontrolled pain and extended opioid use.

Methods

We identified adults with disability entitlement aged 18-64 from national Medicare Advantage health plan claims data who underwent common surgeries between July 2016-June 2021. We used a repeated cross-sectional interrupted time series design to examine changes in opioid prescribing associated with the 2019 7-day limit.

Results

Sample included 24,910 member-index months (mean age [SD] 55.5 [8.0] years;

SUBMITTER: Shuey B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12395116 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature