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. Study authors concluded that policies aimed at improving antibiotic stewardship should include comprehensive measurements of antibiotic use and appropriateness, including diagnosis and whether a clinician visit occurred. Access the abstract.