Characteristics and health service use of Medicaid-insured individuals filling naloxone under a standing order in Louisiana.

backgroundNaloxone distribution is a key intervention to reduce opioid overdose deaths. On January 23, 2017, Louisiana implemented a standing order that permits pharmacies to dispense naloxone to patients without a patient-specific prescription.

objectivesTo examine the characteristics and health service use of Louisiana Medicaid members filling naloxone under the standing order.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of Louisiana Medicaid members from January 23, 2017 to December 31, 2019. We extracted fee-for-service claims and managed care encounters for naloxone dispensed under the standing order.

resultsOverall, there were 2053 naloxone fills by 1912 unique individuals. The total number of naloxone fills increased from 22 in 2017 to 1218 in 2019. Most members (n = 1,586, 83.0%) received any type of health service and 20.4% (n = 391) received an opioid-related health service in the 30 days prior to filling naloxone. Additionally, 12.7% (n = 242) of members had received medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and 42.6% (n = 815) filled a prescription opioid analgesic within the 60 days prior to filling naloxone. Nineteen members (1.0%) had an emergency department visit for overdose within 90 days after filling naloxone.

conclusionStanding orders play an important role in providing access to naloxone, even among Medicaid members who had recent encounters with health care providers. We identified multiple opportunities to improve naloxone prescribing among providers caring for Medicaid-insured people who use opioids, including prescribers of opioid analgesics or MOUD.