Utilization of West Virginia Pediatric Medicaid Claims Data to Guide Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions

Abstract

West Virginia consistently ranks in the top two nationally for per capita antibiotic prescription rates in both pediatric and adult outpatient populations. We present the first descriptive analysis evaluating outpatient prescription rates within the WV pediatric Medicaid population, which demonstrated significant antibiotic prescribing variability by provider type, specialty, and geography.

Keywords: West Virginia Medicaid Region (WVMR); barriers to care; geographic information system (GIS); pediatric outpatient antimicrobial stewardship; underserved patient population.