Medical school ranking and provider outpatient Medicare Part D claims for antibiotics among older patients in the USA

Abstract

Background: Our study aimed to assess whether there was a relationship between graduating from higher-ranked medical schools and the rate of prescribing antibiotics among Medicare Part D providers in the USA.

Methods: The study obtained data from the Medicare Part D Prescribers (FY2013-2021) and the Doctor and Clinicians National repositories. A regression model was fitted to assess the relationship between provider medical school ranking and the rate of antibiotic days supplied per 100 beneficiaries at the provider level.

Results: A total of 197 540 providers were included. No association was found between the medical school ranking and the rate of antibiotics days supplied per 100 beneficiaries. Instead, the type of provider is associated with the prescription rates. Hospitalists and Emergency Medicine providers had fewer days supplied per 100 beneficiaries than Family Medicine providers. In contrast, students, more experienced providers (>20 years since medical school graduation) and females had more days supplied per 100 beneficiaries.

Conclusion: Our study highlights the need for robust outpatient stewardship interventions and incorporating an outcome-based approach to antibiotic stewardship curricula in medical and mid-level provider schools.