A Patient-Based Analysis of Drug Disorder Diagnoses in the Medicare Population

This article utilizes the Part A Medicare provider analysis and review (MEDPAR) file for fiscal year (FY) 1987. The discharge records were organized into a patient-based record that included alcohol, drug, and mental (ADM) disorder diagnoses as well as measures of resource use. The authors find that there are substantially higher costs of health care incurred by the drug disorder diagnosed population. Those of the Medicare population diagnosed with drug disorders had longer lengths of stay (LOSs), higher hospital charges, and more discharges. Costs increased monotonically as the number of drug diagnoses increased. Overlap of mental and alcohol problems is presented for the drug disorder diagnosed population.