Controlled substance agreement (CSA) enrollment was associated with reductions in primary care visits and increased radiologic service utilization in patients receiving long-term opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain, a recent study found. Researchers retrospectively evaluated health care utilization changes among patients enrolled in a CSA between July 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015. Patient characteristics and utilization was assessed 12 months before and after CSA enrollment. They found:

• 772 patients (mean age 63.5 years, mostly white, female, married) were enrolled in an opioid CSA during the study period.

• CSA enrollment was associated with decreased outpatient primary care visits and increased diagnostic radiology services.
• Patients with greater comorbidity were more likely to have reductions in hospitalization, outpatient primary care visits, and reduced specialty care visits.