Economic Trends in Commonly Used Drugs for Spinal Fusion and Brain Tumor Resection: An Analysis of the Medicare Part D Database

Abstract

With the incidence of central and peripheral nervous system disorders on the rise, neurosurgical procedures paired with the careful administration of select medications have become necessary to optimize patient outcomes. Despite efforts to decrease the over-prescription of common addictive drugs, such as opioids, prescription costs continue to rise. This study analyzed temporal trends in medication use and cost for spinal fusion and brain tumor resection procedures. The Medicare Part B Database was queried from 2016 to 2020 for data regarding spinal fusion and brain tumor resection procedures, while the Part D Database was used to extract data for two commonly prescribed medications for each procedure. Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression were completed for the analyzed variables. The results showed a significant negative correlation between the number of spinal procedure beneficiaries and the cost of methocarbamol, as well as between the annual percent change in spinal beneficiaries and the annual percent change in oxycodone cost. Linear regression revealed that oxycodone cost was the only parameter with a statistically significant model. Moving forward, it is imperative to combat rising drug costs, regardless of trends seen in their usage. Further studies should focus on the utilization of primary data in a multi-center study.

Keywords: Medicare; brain tumor resection; economics; health system; neurosurgery; pharmacology; spinal fusion; surgical system.

Figure 1

Percent difference of the total number of spinal fusion beneficiaries, the average cost of spinal fusion, and the cost of spinal fusion post-operative drugs.

Figure 2

Percent difference in the total number of brain tumor resection beneficiaries, the average cost of brain tumor resection, and the cost of brain tumor resection drugs.