Shifts in Antipsychotic Prescribing by Clinician Type for Medicare Part D Beneficiaries, 2013-2023

How have patterns of antipsychotic prescribing by clinician type changed among Medicare Part D beneficiaries from 2013 to 2023?In this repeated cross-sectional study, the proportion of antipsychotic prescriptions written by advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants increased from 13.8% to 39.6%, making them the largest group of prescribers. During the same period, the proportion of antipsychotic prescriptions written by psychiatrists decreased from 48.4% to 32.4% and by primary care physicians from 33.0% to 23.8%.This study suggests that nonphysician clinicians now account for a larger proportion of antipsychotic prescribing among Medicare beneficiaries, indicating shifts in the mental health care workforce and prescribing practices.

Corresponding Author: Youngran Kim, PhD, Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1200 Pressler St, Houston, TX 77030 (youngran.kim@uth.tmc.edu).

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