This study evaluated the impact of Oregon’s Practitioner Managed Prescription Drug Plan (PMPDP) on health care utilization among Medicaid beneficiaries receiving long‑acting opioid analgesics for non‑cancer pain. Using pharmacy and medical claims data, an open cohort of opioid users was followed before and after policy implementation and categorized as switchers or non‑switchers. Emergency department visits and hospitalizations were compared using a difference‑in‑differences approach. Results showed no significant differences in utilization between individuals affected by prescription changes and those unaffected, suggesting that PMPDP‑related prescribing changes did not alter acute health service use.
