title: Medical cost savings associated with an extended-release opioid with abuse-deterrent technology in the US.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the US, prescription opioids with technology designed to deter abuse have been introduced to deter drug abuse without hindering appropriate access for pain patients. The objective of this study was to estimate changes in medical costs following the introduction of a new formulation of extended-release (ER) oxycodone HCl (oxycodone) with abuse-deterrent technology in the US.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health insurance claims data were used to estimate changes in rates of diagnosed opioid abuse among continuous users of extended-release opioids (EROs) following the introduction of reformulated ER oxycodone in August 2010. This study also calculated the excess medical costs of diagnosed opioid abuse using a propensity score matching approach. These findings were integrated with published government reports and literature to extrapolate the findings to the national level. All costs were inflated to 2011 US dollars.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The introduction of reformulated ER oxycodone was associated with relative reductions in rates of diagnosed opioid abuse of 22.7% (p < 0.001) and 18.0% (p = 0.034) among commercially-insured and Medicaid patients, respectively. There was no significant change among Medicare-eligible patients. The excess annual per-patient medical costs associated with diagnosed opioid abuse were $9456 (p < 0.001), $10,046 (p < 0.001), and $11,501 (p < 0.001) for commercially-insured, Medicare-eligible, and Medicaid patients, respectively. Overall, reformulated ER oxycodone was associated with annual medical cost savings of ∼$430 million in the US.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the observational research design of this study, caution is warranted in any causal interpretation of the findings. Portions of the study relied on prior literature, government reports, and assumptions to extrapolate the national medical cost savings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that reformulated ER oxycodone has been associated with reductions in abuse rates and substantial medical cost savings. Payers and policy-makers should consider these benefits as they devise and implement new guidelines and policies in this therapeutic area.
authors.affiliation: College of William & Mary , Williamsburg, VA , USA.
authors.forename: Louis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Rossiter
authors.forename: Noam Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Kirson
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shei
authors.forename: Alan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Howard G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben-Joseph
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Michna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D010098:Oxycodone