Medication prescribing patterns vary widely between, within states and thera...( cription use varied from alow of 5.03 ...),Health

cription use varied from a low of 5.03 prescriptions per member per year in Nevada to a high of 11.38 prescriptions per member per year in Louisiana. Among therapy classes, the widest variation between the states studied was found with cholesterol and blood pressure lowering drugs and antihistamines. The least variation was found with diabetes drugs, estrogens and antirheumatics.

"Variation in the use of heart-related medications was one of our most surprising findings because we thought the existence of generally accepted treatment guidelines would have minimized regional variation," said Motheral.

Using antihypertensive blood pressure drugs as an example, she noted that prescription use varied widely not only between states but also within states. On a state level, antihypertensive use ranged from a low of 0.28 prescriptions per member per year in Nevada to 0.98 prescriptions per member per year in Louisiana. However, within most states examined, antihypertensive use ranged just as widely between zip codes. For example, the lowest antihypertensive use within one Illinois zip code was 0.11 prescriptions per member per year compared to antihypertensive use of 1.1 prescriptions per member per year in the highest utilizing Illinois zip code.

Why prescription use varies between and within states, even among recipients of pharmacy benefits, requires further study, said Motheral. She explained that the variation could be due to physician practice styles, patient preferences, and/or still-to-be-determined underlying factors other than age or copayment levels.

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Contact: Steve Littlejohn
slittlejohn@kupperparker.com
314-290-2024
Kupper Parker Communications
29-Jun-1999

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