OBJECTIVES: The rising incidence of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the U.S. places a substantial burden on the healthcare system. This study examined changes in all-cause healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients prescribed an FDA-authorized prescription digital therapeutic (PDT) for OUD.

METHODS: A 12-month retrospective analysis of HealthVerity PrivateSource20 closed claims data was conducted in OUD-diagnosed adults with at least 8 months of continuous enrollment before (pre-index) and after (post-index) PDT initiation (index). HCRU included facility and clinician service encounters. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were compared between pre-index and post-index periods using a repeated-measures negative binomial model, adjusted for number of days of follow-up.

RESULTS: Of 901 eligible patients (median age 36 years, 62.4% female, 73.9% Medicaid-insured recipients) the majority had one prescription (72.3%), 14.7% had two, 7.5% had three, and 5.5% had four or more prescriptions. Overall hospital encounters decreased significantly in the post-index period by 22% (IRR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.69-0.89; P<0.001) driven by a 25% decrease in inpatient stays (IRR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.58-0.99; P=0.041) and a 22% decrease in emergency department (ED) visits (IRR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68-0.89; P<0.001). Case management and psychiatric services increased by 88% (IRR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.29-2.73; P<0.001) and 25% (IRR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.14-1.38; P<0.001) respectively. Decreases were observed in drug testing of 18% (IRR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.76-0.89; P<0.001), radiological services of 15% (IRR 0.85; 95% CI: 0.74-0.98; P=0.025) and surgeries of 20% (IRR 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67-0.97; P=0.022). Among patients on buprenorphine (n=619) adherence rose significantly (P<0.001) from a medication possession ratio of 0.649 (SE 0.0118) to 0.848 (SE 0.0118).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients prescribed an FDA-authorized PDT for OUD, key HCRU measures of overall hospital encounters, inpatient stays, ED visits, and recovery-related services were reduced over a 12-month period, and the use of buprenorphine increased.