What does this research mean for the field?

Among individuals with sickle cell disease, total opioid dispensing increased or stabilized from 2021 to 2023 after prior declines, reflecting broader patient distribution rather than per-patient treatment intensification. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate national trends in opioid dispensing volume and per-patient intensity—including prescription frequency, duration, and dose—among commercially insured and Medicaid-enrolled individuals with sickle cell disease.

September 6, 2026JAMA Network OpenOpen Access

Opioid Dispensing Volume and Per-Patient Intensity in Sickle Cell Disease

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Authors

KXKevin Y. XuWashington University in St. Louis BABrandon K. AttellGeorgia State University JBJoanna L. BussCenter for Advancing Health

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Implication

Cohort study reveals rising post-2020 opioid dispensing volume in sickle cell disease, indicating broader access rather than higher individual dosing.

Key Points

To evaluate national trends in opioid dispensing volume and per-patient intensity—including prescription frequency, duration, and dose—among commercially insured and Medicaid-enrolled individuals with sickle cell disease.
Retrospective cohort study analyzing Merative MarketScan commercial and Medicaid claims data from 48,760 individuals with sickle cell disease across 3 periods between January 2011 and December 2023.
Segmented regression models estimated monthly percentage changes (MPCs) in total dispensed prescriptions per 100 enrollees, mean prescriptions per recipient, mean days supplied, and mean daily morphine milligram equivalents for 6 opioid formulations.
From 2021 through 2023, total dispensing rose across all 6 opioids among Medicaid beneficiaries, led by methadone (monthly percentage change [MPC], 1.76%; 95% CI, 1.24%–2.29%) and hydromorphone (MPC, 1.43%; 95% CI, 1.00%–1.86%).
Among commercially insured enrollees, total dispensing increased for oxycodone (MPC, 0.84%; 95% CI, 0.60%–1.07%) and morphine (MPC, 0.87%; 95% CI, 0.42%–1.33%), while tramadol dispensing declined (MPC, −0.79%; 95% CI, −1.16% to −0.42%).
Per-recipient intensity metrics remained largely flat, with mean days supplied and mean daily morphine milligram equivalents showing no significant increases across any opioid or insurance category.

Cite This Study

Xu et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9d1eb628139818eab21bb7 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.32141

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Implication

Cohort study reveals rising post-2020 opioid dispensing volume in sickle cell disease, indicating broader access rather than higher individual dosing.

Opioid Dispensing Volume and Per-Patient Intensity in Sickle Cell Disease

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Opioid Dispensing Volume and Per-Patient Intensity in Sickle Cell Disease

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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