Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2025
Publication Title
Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine PB 85: January 2025
Abstract
Nationally, approximately 30% of Medicare Part D benefi-ciaries (13.4 million) had at least one opioid prescription in 2018, with over 350,000 beneficiaries receiving high dosages ≥120 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) /day.1 The CDC recommends avoiding dosages ≥90 MME/day.2 In 2019, state rates of Part D beneficiaries receiving opioid prescriptions have been as high as 42% (e.g., Ala-bama).1 Data from the 2015-2016 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey indicate that adults aged 65 and older living in rural areas were more likely than their urban counter-parts to obtain four or more opioid prescriptions during the year (11.1% versus 6.2%).
Recommended Citation
Jonk, Yvonne PhD; O'Connor, Heidi; Pearson, Karen MLIS, MA; Croll, Zachariah MPH; Thayer, Deborah; and Gale, John MS, "Opioid Use Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries" (2025). All Maine Rural Health Research Center Publications. 4.
https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/all_mrhrc/4
Funding Organization
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreement #U1CRH03716.
Comments
This study was supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under cooperative agreement #U1CRH03716. The information, conclusions and opinions expressed in this brief are those of the authors and no endorsement by FORHP, HRSA, or HHS is intended or should be inferred.