H2 Receptor Antagonist use Among Medicaid Patients Enrolled in Managed Care Health Plans

Abstract

AbstractReports have suggested that the prevalence of questionable prescribing of H2 receptor antagonists is substantial. A retrospective study was conducted among patients receiving an H2 receptor antagonist at nine health plans serving Pennsylvania Medicaid patients during the 1994 calendar year. The medical charts and automated pharmacy records of these patients were reviewed to identify appropriate therapy according to the indication for drug therapy, drug dosage, duration of drug therapy, and concomitant drug use. Of patients with documentation of H2 receptor antagonist use during the 1994 calendar year, 65 of 332 members (20%) received inappropriate therapy, ranging from 12% to 25% at the nine health plans. Older patients appeared to be at increased risk for inappropriate drug therapy (p-value=0.04). Although the number of patients evaluated was relatively small, this study indicates that the prevalence of questionable prescribing of H2 receptor antagonists was substantial.