Using Drug Prescribing Patterns to Identify Stewards of Cost-Conscious Care

J Am Board Fam Med. 2017 Nov-Dec;30(6):824-827. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2017.06.170019.

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize family physicians (FPs) who are stewards of care by consistently prescribing omeprazole over esomeprazole.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of physicians prescribing omeprazole or esomeprazole under Medicare Part D in 2014.

Results: There was a regional trend with 49% of Western FPs but only 6% of Southern FPs rarely prescribing esomeprazole. Physicians had increased odds of being a steward if they worked with a care coordinator (P < .001), at a patient-centered medical home (P < .001), or in a large practice (P < .001).

Conclusions: If these findings are replicated across multiple drugs, future outreach could be conducted based on provider prescribing patterns.

Keywords: Medicare; Prescription Drugs; Stewards.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Drug Prescriptions / economics
  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
  • Drug Utilization / economics
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data
  • Esomeprazole / economics
  • Esomeprazole / therapeutic use
  • Health Expenditures
  • Humans
  • Medicare / economics
  • Medicare / statistics & numerical data*
  • Omeprazole / economics
  • Omeprazole / therapeutic use
  • Physicians, Family / economics
  • Physicians, Family / statistics & numerical data*
  • Professional Practice / economics
  • Professional Practice / statistics & numerical data*
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors / economics
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • United States

Substances

  • Proton Pump Inhibitors
  • Omeprazole
  • Esomeprazole