News in brief - Jan. 16, 2012

Diabetes accounts for more than one-third of Indian Health Service costs

A study of American Indian adults in central Arizona found that a high proportion of Indian Health Service costs go to treat patients with diabetes.

American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of diabetes among all U.S. racial or ethnic groups and are 2.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than the general population. They also have high rates of comorbidities such as heart disease and kidney failure. The study, published online Dec. 15, 2011, in the American Journal of Public Health, examined data on 32,052 American Indians from Oct. 1, 2004, to Sept. 30, 2005 (ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/ajph.2011.300332).

It found that adults with diabetes used emergency, primary care, specialty and dental services at rates two to three times higher than those without diabetes. Patients with diabetes made up 11% of the population but accounted for 37% of all adult treatment costs.

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Washington state doctors get access to Rx tracking

Physicians and other prescribers in Washington now can keep tabs on their patients' controlled-substance prescriptions using the state's new drug-monitoring database.

In December 2011, pharmacists started entering patient prescription information into the system, which could help physicians and pharmacies prevent medication mix-ups and drug abuse. The system already includes 3.1 million records for prescribed drugs in Schedules II through V, said the Washington State Dept. of Health.

To request and review patients' prescription information, physicians must register at the prescription-monitoring program website (www.wapmp.org). The data also are available to several state government agencies, including health professional licensing boards, the health department said. Washington joins 36 other states with operational prescription-monitoring programs.

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