News Report | August 31, 2021
24% Of Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Received Prescription Opioids In 2020
In 2020, 24% of the approximately 50 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries received at least one prescription opioid. About 0.5% of these beneficiaries (or 225,463 consumers) received high amounts of opioids – defined as an average morphine equivalent dose (MED) of greater than 120 mg a day for at least three months. About 0.09% or 43,762 consumers) had an opioid overdose from prescription opioids, illicit opioids, or both. About 4.2% or 2.1 million consumers) received drugs for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) treatment of an addictive disorder.
The 24% figure for receiving prescription opioids through Medicare . . .