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Limiting Access to Pain Medications May Increase Overall Medicaid Costs

By Lindsay F. Wiley [Bio]

April 2, 2003 - According to a new study, restricting patients' access to long-acting pain medications may increase, rather than decrease, overall Medicaid costs. The study indicates that limited access to long-acting opioids can lead patients to increase their use of other, more expensive medical services, including hospitalization and surgery. Researchers drew data from a random sample of 680,000 Medicaid patients receiving prescription drugs and compared those who were using long-acting opioid medications to those using short-acting versions. The study was sponsored by the US National Foundation of Women Legislators and has been cited by legislators in a number of states as they consider how to respond to Medicaid budget constraints.