Non-Infection-Related And Non-Visit-Based Antibiotic Prescribing Is Common Among Medicaid Patients | Health Affairs

Non-Infection-Related And Non-Visit-Based Antibiotic Prescribing Is Common Among Medicaid Patients | Health Affairs

Inappropriate Prescribing of Antibiotics Was Common for Medicaid Beneficiaries

Twenty-eight percent of antibiotic prescriptions for Medicaid beneficiaries filled between 2004 and 2013 were not associated with a clinician visit, according to an AHRQ-funded study published in Health Affairs. The analysis also found that 17 percent of antibiotics prescriptions were given at a clinician visit but without an infection diagnosis. The study analyzed claims data from 53 million Medicaid beneficiaries who filled 298 million antibiotic prescriptions during the 10-year period. One-third of the prescriptions were filled for patients 5 years old and younger, and 40 percent were for penicillins. Study authors concluded that policies aimed at improving antibiotic stewardship should include comprehensive measurements of antibiotic use and appropriateness, including clinician visit and diagnosis.  Access the abstract.