Trends in prescription drug utilization and spending for the Department of Defense, 2002-2007.
OBJECTIVE
Examine trends in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) outpatient drug spending and utilization between 2002 and 2007.


METHODS
We analyzed pharmacy claims data from the U.S. Military Health System (MHS), using a cross-sectional analysis at the prescription and patient-year level and measuring utilization in 30-day equivalent prescriptions and expenditures in dollars.


RESULTS
Pharmaceutical spending more than doubled in DoD, from $3 billion in FY02 to $6.5 billion in FY07. The largest increase occurred in the DoD community pharmacy network, where utilization grew from 6 million 30-day equivalent prescriptions in the first quarter of FY02 to more than 16 million in the last quarter of FY07. The smallest increase in annual spending occurred in FY07 (5.5%), down from a high of 27.5% in FY03.


CONCLUSIONS
The MHS has experienced rapid growth in pharmaceutical spending since FY02. However, there are signs that growth in pharmaceutical spending may be slowing.
Devine
Joshua W
JW
DoD Pharmacoeconomic Center, 2450 Stanley Road, Bldg. 1000, Suite 208, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6102, USA.
Trice
Shana
S
Spridgen
Stacia L
SL
Bacon
Thomas A
TA
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000639:trends*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D014481:United States