Moderator: Amy G. Griffin, JD, Corporate Counsel, Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance

CE Certified By: AMA,AAFP,ACPE,ADA,ANCC,APA,MCHES,NAADAC,NASW,NBCC

Little is known about trends in non-fatal heroin overdose, patients’ healthcare utilization preceding overdose, or prior Rx opioid use, an important consideration given the association between Rx opioid abuse and heroin use. Such information could inform prevention strategies and tailor interventions. Presenters will offer an analysis of MarketScan® Medicaid and commercial claims data, 2010-2014, which found heroin-involved overdose rates increased more among the commercially-insured than Medicaid patients (270% vs. 94.3%). Nearly all patients had a healthcare encounter in the six months prior to their first overdose, with two-thirds of commercially-insured patients having outpatient visits. In the month prior to the first overdose, 24.5% of Medicaid and 8.6% of commercially insured patients had opioid prescriptions. Healthcare utilization patterns suggest that opportunities exist for interventions at the point of care prior to the first overdose, noting differences in where patients access care by insurance type. Outpatient settings are of particular importance for the emerging cohort of young commercially insured patients aged 15-24 years with opioid use disorder.

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
- Explain how non-fatal drug overdose trends and healthcare utilization histories can inform prevention.
- Describe differences in healthcare utilization patterns by insurance type for heroin overdose.
- Identify strategies to support interventions at the point of care prior to the first heroin overdose.