title: Relationship between buprenorphine adherence and health service utilization and costs among opioid dependent patients.
abstract: Buprenorphine-medication assisted therapy (B-MAT) is an effective treatment for opioid dependence, but may be considered cost-prohibitive based on ingredient cost alone. The purpose of this study was to use medical and pharmacy claims data to estimate the healthcare service utilization and costs associated with B-MAT adherence among a sample of opioid dependent members. Members were placed into two adherence groups based on 1-year medication possession ratio (≥ 0.80 vs. <0.80). The B-MAT adherent group incurred significantly higher pharmacy charges (adjusted means; $6,156 vs. $3,581), but lower outpatient ($9,288 vs. $14,570), inpatient ($10,982 vs. $26,470), ER ($1,891 vs. $4,439), and total healthcare charges ($28,458 vs. $49,051; p<0.01) compared to non-adherent members. Adherence effects were confirmed in general linear models. Though B-MAT adherence requires increased pharmacy utilization, adherent individuals were shown to use fewer expensive health care services, resulting in overall reduced healthcare expenditure compared to non-adherent patients.
authors: Health Analytics, LLC, 9200 Rumsey Road, Suite 215, Columbia, MD 21045, USA. Electronic address: joseph.tkacz@healthanalytic.com.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Tkacz
authors: Institute of Addiction Medicine, 1000 Germantown Pike, Suite H2, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, USA.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Volpicelli
authors: Aetna Behavioral Health, 930 Harvest Drive, Mail Stop U32N, Blue Bell, PA 19422, USA.
authors: Hyong
authors: H
authors: Un
authors: Health Analytics, LLC, 9200 Rumsey Road, Suite 215, Columbia, MD 21045, USA.
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Ruetsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D016208:Databases, Factual; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine
keywords: Adherence; Buprenorphine; Dependence; Opiate; Opioid; Pharmacoeconomics