Boston —Patients who abuse, or are dependent on, opioids have higher readmission rates after major surgery than their counterparts who do not abuse the agents, according to a national database study. Opioid abuse and dependence, the investigators added, also increase costs, both at initial admission and at readmission after a major procedure.
“We know that given the current opioid crisis, both Medicare and Medicaid have started imposing penalties for excess readmissions,” said