Prescription monitoring programs could save $155 million in Medicaid spending

States that require physicians and pharmacists to register and use opioid prescription monitoring databases could save $155 million in Medicaid spending, according to new research. Previous studies have suggested that such programs could help spot trends of drug addiction and misuse. In this latest study, scientists looked at Medicaid prescription data between 2011-2016 and found that in states with stricter mandates for tracking, the opioid prescription rate dropped from more than 161 per 1,000 enrollees per quarter to around 147 per 1,000 enrollees. Compared to states with looser mandates, those with more requirements saw a nearly 9% reduction in prescriptions. Opioid-related inpatient hospital stays as well as emergency department visits related to the drugs were also lower in states with strict mandates, reductions that could also reduce Medicaid spending on hospitalizations.