Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Buprenorphine Receipt Among Medicare Beneficiaries, 2015–19

Abstract

We examined Medicare Part D claims from the period 2015–19 to identify state and national racial and ethnic disparities in buprenorphine receipt among Medicare disability beneficiaries with diagnosed opioid use disorder or opioid overdose. Racial and ethnic disparities in buprenorphine use remained persistently high during the study period, especially for Black beneficiaries, suggesting the need for targeted interventions and policies.

Highly effective medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), such as buprenorphine, which can be prescribed in office-based settings, are underused among minoritized racial and ethnic populations.¹ Examining disparities in buprenorphine use within the Medicare population is of particular importance, given high rates of OUD, overdose, and complex comorbidity^2–4 among Medicare disability beneficiaries ages...