Variation in Benzodiazepine and Antipsychotic Prescribing Among Hospice Agencies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Benzodiazepines and antipsychotics are routinely prescribed for symptom management in hospice. There is minimal evidence to guide prescribing in this population, and little is known about how prescribing varies across hospice agencies.

Objective

Examine patient- and hospice agency-level characteristics associated with incident prescribing of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics in hospice.

Design

Retrospective cohort study of a 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries newly enrolled in hospice.

Participants

Medicare hospice beneficiaries ≥ 65 years old between 2014 and 2016, restricted to those without benzodiazepine (N = 169,688) or antipsychotic (N = 190,441) prescription fills in the 6 months before hospice enrollment.

Main measures

The primary o

SUBMITTER: Gerlach LB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9640505 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature