Postsurgical opioid prescribing among veterans using community care for orthopedic surgery at non-VA hospitals compared to a VA hospital with a transitional pain service: a retrospective cohort study

Background The USA provides medical services to its military veterans through Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers. Passage of recent legislation has increased the number of veterans having VHA-paid orthopedic surgery at non-VHA facilities. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study among veterans who underwent orthopedic joint surgery paid for by the VHA either at the Salt Lake City VHA Medical Center (VAMC) or at non-VHA hospitals between January 2018 and December 2021. 562 patients were included in the study, of which 323 used a non-VHA hospital and 239 patients the VAMC. The number of opioid tablets prescribed at discharge, the total number prescribed by postdischarge day 90, and the number of patients still filling opioid prescriptions between 90 and 120 days after surgery were compared between groups. Results Veterans who underwent orthopedic surgery at a non-VHA hospital were prescribed more opioid tablets at discharge (median (IQR)); (40 (30–60) non-VHA vs 30 (20–47.5) VAMC, p<0.001) and in the first 90 days after surgery than patients who had surgery at the Salt Lake City VAMC (60 (40–120) vs 35 (20–60), p<0.001). Patients who had surgery at Salt Lake City VAMC were also significantly less likely to fill opioid prescriptions past 90 days after hospital discharge (OR (95% CI) 0.06 (0.01 to 0.48), p=0.007). Conclusion These results suggest that veterans who have surgery at a veterans affairs hospital with a transitional pain service are at lower risk for larger opioid prescriptions both at discharge and within 90 days after surgery as well as persistent opioid use beyond 90 days after discharge than if they have surgery at a community hospital. Data are available upon reasonable request.