Escalating use of prescription opioids for pain management has contributed to the opioid epidemic through misuse and overuse. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an expanded version of the Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool to ensure that complete and current data is available to address the opioid epidemic across the country. This update includes data for opioid prescribing in the Medicaid program and allows users to make geographic comparisons of Medicare Part D opioid prescribing rates over time for urban and rural communities.
The latest additions to the mapping tool include:
Medicaid State Opioid Prescribing Rates
The Medicaid Mapping Tool allows users to review Medicaid opioid prescribing rates at the state level and compare prescribing rates in fee-for-service and managed care.
- In Medicaid, opioid prescribing rates at the state level in 2016 range from 2.9% to 9.4%, compared to the national average opioid prescribing rate of 5.4%. Opioid prescribing in Medicaid is slightly higher in managed care (5.4%) compared to fee-for-service (5.3%).
- The data also shows the change in prescribing rates from 2013 to 2016.
Medicare Part D Geographic Opioid Prescribing Rates
The Medicare Part D Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool has been updated with additional maps that allow users to quickly compare Part D opioid prescribing rates in urban and rural areas at the state, county and ZIP code levels.
- In Medicare Part D, opioid prescribing rates at the state level in 2016 range from 2.9% to 7.4% compared to the national average opioid prescribing rate of 5.3%.
- Opioid prescribing is slightly higher in rural areas (5.5%) compared to urban areas (5.3%).
- There are 14 states that have higher opioid prescribing rates in rural areas compared to urban areas and there are 34 states that have slightly higher opioid prescribing rates in urban areas compared to rural areas.
The Great Plains QIN continues to partner with providers, pharmacists and stakeholders in our region to reduce misuse and overuse of opioids. Tools and resources for providers as well as educational events can be found on the Medication Safety section of our webpage.