Drug Oversupply in Nursing Homes - An Empirical Evaluation of Administrative Data

Arbeitspapier

A widely discussed shortcoming of long-term care in nursing homes for elderly is the inappropriate or suboptimal drug utilization, in particular the utilization of psychotropic drugs. This paper estimates the effect of institutionalization on the drug intake of frail elderly using administrative data from the largest sickness fund in Germany. Difference-in-differences propensity score matching techniques are used to compare drug prescriptions of frail elderly who entered a nursing home with those who remained in the out-patient care system. The findings suggest that nursing home inhabitants receive more doses of antipsychotics, antidepressants and analgesics. The potential oversupply goes along with estimated drug costs of about € 87 million per year.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-3-86788-537-9
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Ruhr Economic Papers ; No. 475

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health: General
• Subject: medication errors ; patient safety ; expenditures ; drug over- and undersupply ; medical costs

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Stroka, Magdalena A.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI)
• (where): Essen
• (when): 2014

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.4419/86788537
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/93180
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET