By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cybersecurity
    4 Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Medical Practice Against Cyber Attacks
    October 24, 2021
    Health Check Diagnosis Medical Condition Analysis Concept
    6 Health Woes With Online Remedies
    January 19, 2022
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    April 24, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    healthy nursing school habits
    Healthy Habits for Nursing Student Nursing School Students
    May 24, 2024
    High Deductables
    High-Deductible Insurance and Rising Bad Debt
    July 24, 2015
    How People Are Taking Advantage of Health Deals in the Recent Recession
    February 5, 2021
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 4 Reasons Substance Abuse is Driving up Healthcare Costs in 2017
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > 4 Reasons Substance Abuse is Driving up Healthcare Costs in 2017
BusinessGlobal HealthcarePublic Health

4 Reasons Substance Abuse is Driving up Healthcare Costs in 2017

Rehan Ijaz
Last updated: February 5, 2021 7:27 am
Rehan Ijaz
Share
6 Min Read
Image
SHARE

The rise in instances of substance abuse in the United States is having an impact on healthcare expenses. This not only increases the strain on our health system, but the added coverage that the Affordable Care Act offers results in higher policy costs for consumers as insurance companies struggle to cover the added expense, which is then passed onto the consumer with higher premiums. According to a report published by BipartisanPolicy.org, ?this rapid growth in health expenditures creates an unsustainable burden on America?s economy, with far-reaching consequences.? To understand the areas of substance abuse that are impacting healthcare costs, let?s take a closer look at 4 ways healthcare costs are impacted by substance abuse.

Contents
1. An Increasing Trend in Deaths due to Overdose2. 4-Fold Increase in Opioid Prescription Scripts since 19993. Increasing Number of Private Rehabilitation Facilities with Ranging Levels of Medical Care and Professional Competency4. Increase in Rehabilitation Firms as a Result of ACA Coverage Requirements

1. An Increasing Trend in Deaths due to Overdose

National Overdose Deaths, as reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse,

shows that the NIDA received confirmation of more than 25,000 deaths due to prescription drug overdoses in 2014. This is more than a 2.8-fold increase since 2001. The vast majority of these deaths are due to abuse of opioid pain relievers, which rose more than 340% from 2001?s number, to 18,000 fatalities. For a country that prides itself on world-class healthcare, the prevalence of opioid pain abuse is shocking. Yes, these are highly addictive substances, but the technology at our disposal to track and monitor opioid prescriptions should allow us, as a society, to put a dent in these numbers.

2. 4-Fold Increase in Opioid Prescription Scripts since 1999

Another contributing factor is the prevalence with which healthcare providers prescribe opioid pain relievers. Since 1999, the number of opioid prescriptions filled by America?s pharmacies quadrupled to reach 259 million scripts in 2012 (Source: CDC). What?s fascinating is the disparity of where these scripts are written and filled. The states with the highest volume of opioid prescriptions (primarily located in the south) are nearly ten times higher than the states on the other end of the spectrum. Clearly there are different prescribing guidelines in practice from state to state. It?s also possible that some states have more lax regulations, which allows for out of state residents to fly in and attain and then fill their prescriptions.

More Read

Successful M&A Exits in the Consumer Healthcare Device Market
Explaining Long Term Care Insurance Costs to the Non-Believers
Why Medical Professionals Should Embrace Internet Marketing
Scheduling: A Path to Healthcare Transformation
Should Government Control Big Pharma Marketing?

3. Increasing Number of Private Rehabilitation Facilities with Ranging Levels of Medical Care and Professional Competency

In the United States, there are more than 14,000 rehabilitation facilities. Unfortunately, these facilities are in demand and many are full according to Market Watch. It can be a struggle to find a quality rehabilitation facility that accepts a patient?s insurance and provides quality care. Thankfully, there are agencies that independently rate these facilities for patients. There is government oversight, with agencies like the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services providing what they call a ?Five Star Quality Rating System?. The same system is used for both nursing homes and in-patient / out-patient rehabilitation facilities.

4. Increase in Rehabilitation Firms as a Result of ACA Coverage Requirements

Coverage for drug and alcohol rehabilitation became one of the ten essential benefits mandated by the Affordable Care Act in 2012. This was welcome news to state and local governments struggling to cover the cost of reimbursing private and public providers of rehabilitation services to those without insurance, or adequate insurance to cover services. As a result of the ACA, the burden for the majority of costs associated with rehabilitation for the poor and underinsured transferred to the insurers operating in each state. But, as any economist will tell you, there are unintended consequences to every government action. The decision to provide rehabilitation coverage for all Americans insured in the US with ACA compliant health coverage has resulted in a rush of firms looking to profit from the new coverage. Unfortunately, quality care doesn?t always result from a gold rush spurred by new coverage limits. In addition, lower costing ACA plans do not fully cover the cost. Cost-sharing means the burden for paying for this potentially expensive treatment is shared with the patient. Add into this equation the indirect cost of drug abuse, which in 1997 alone reached $294 billion; only $11.9 billion of the social cost directly paid for rehabilitation services (source: HHS Public Access). Substance abuse is a major economic concern for the United States. While information available is limited to certain years, it?s clear that the impact of substance abuse is increasing year-over-year. Whether it?s fatalities due to overdose, changing insurance legislation, or the boom in rehabilitation facilities. It will be fascinating to see how this increasing challenge is handled by future generations.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

BusinessGlobal Healthcare

Building a Chain of Branded IVF Clinics in India

March 5, 2013
Policy & LawPublic Health

$1 Tax on a Pack of Cigarettes? As California Goes -So Goes the Nation

June 4, 2012

How Much Do You Trust Your Employer?

September 13, 2011

Healthcare Expenses in the US: These Hospital Bills on Reddit Say It All

August 26, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?