News Report | July 29, 2018
One In Three Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Prescribed Opioids In 2017
About one in three Medicare Part D beneficiaries was prescribed opioids during 2017, equaling 14.1 million (31.2%) of the 45.2 million beneficiaries. This is approximately the same rate as in 2016. About 460,000 beneficiaries (1.0% of all Medicare Part D beneficiaries in 2017) received high amounts of opioids, with a morphine equivalent dose (MED) of greater than 120 mg a day for at least 3 months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the MED for people with chronic pain be no more than 90 mg per day.
These findings were reported in . . .