Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Trend and Expenditure in Louisiana Medicaid, 2003-2013

Objectives Determine trends in incidence and expenditure for perinatal drug exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) among Louisiana's Medicaid population. We also describe the maternal characteristics of NAS affected infants. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis using linked Medicaid and vital records data from 2003 to 2013. Conducted incidence and cost trends for drug exposed infants with and without NAS. Also performed comparison statistics among drug exposed infants with and without NAS and those not drug exposed. Results As rate of perinatal drug exposure increased, NAS rate per 1000 live Medicaid births also increased, from 2.1 (2003) to 3.6 (2007) to 8.0 (2013) (P for trend
Author(s): Ekwutosi M. Okoroh [sup.1] , Rebekah E. Gee [sup.1] [sup.2] , Baogong Jiang [sup.1] , Melissa B. McNeil [sup.3] , Beverly A. Hardy-Decuir [sup.1] , Amy L. Zapata [sup.3] [...]