Benzodiazepine Prescribing from VA and Medicare to Dually Enrolled Older Veterans: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There has been a reduction in BZD prescribing in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system since 2013. It is unknown whether the decline in VA-dispensed BZDs has been offset by Medicare Part D prescriptions.

Objectives

To examine (1) whether, accounting for Part D, declines in BZD prescribing to older Veterans remain; (2) patient characteristics associated with obtaining BZDs outside VA and facility variation in BZD source (VA only, VA and Part D, Part D only).

Design

Retrospective cohort study with mixed effects multinomial logistic model examining characteristics associated with BZD source.

Patients

A total of 1,746,278 Veterans aged ≥65 enrolled in VA and Part D, 2013-2017.

Main measures

BZD prescription prevalence and source.

Key res

SUBMITTER: Lei L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8642498 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature