Becky A Briesacher PHD
Title Associate Professor
Institution University of Massachusetts Medical School
Department Medicine
Division Geriatric Medicine
Address University of Massachusetts Medical School
377 Plantation Street
Worcester MA 01605
Telephone 508-856-3495
Email
Other Positions
Institution UMMS - School of Medicine
Department Quantitative Health Sciences

Institution UMMS - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department Clinical Population Health Research
Narrative

Prescription Drug Policies and Older Adults

BriesacherDr. Briesacher is a health services researcher with interest in prescription drug policies that affect older adults.  She applies methods from epidemiology, economics and health policy to analyses of medication issues among chronically ill or elderly patients.  She is currently studying antipsychotic use in long-term care facilities, the potential for cost-offsets from the new Medicare drug benefit, and the capability of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality and safety of chronic medications.   Her work has been funded by the U.S. DHHS Office of Disability, Aging, and Long-term Care, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Commonwealth Fund, Kaiser Family Foundation, and AARP.

Publications
1. Tjia J, Velten SJ, Parsons C, Valluri S, Briesacher BA. Studies to reduce unnecessary medication use in frail older adults: a systematic review. Drugs Aging. 2013 May; 30(5):285-307.
  View in: PubMed
 
2. Briesacher BA, Tjia J, Field T, Peterson D, Gurwitz JH. Antipsychotic use among nursing home residents. JAMA. 2013 Feb 6; 309(5):440-2.
  View in: PubMed
 
3. Harrold LR, Briesacher BA, Peterson D, Beard A, Madden J, Zhang F, Gurwitz JH, Soumerai SB. Cost-related Medication Nonadherence in Older Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2013 Feb; 40(2):137-43.
  View in: PubMed
 
4. Johnson ES, Bartman BA, Briesacher BA, Fleming NS, Gerhard T, Kornegay CJ, Nourjah P, Sauer B, Schumock GT, Sedrakyan A, Stürmer T, West SL, Schneeweiss S. The incident user design in comparative effectiveness research. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2013 Jan; 22(1):1-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
5. Harrold LR, Peterson D, Beard AJ, Gurwitz JH, Briesacher BA. Time trends in medication use and expenditures in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Med. 2012 Sep; 125(9):937.e9-937.e15.
  View in: PubMed
 
6. Higgins AY, B Doubeni AR, Phillips KL, Laiyemo AO, Briesacher B, Tjia J, Doubeni CA. Self-reported colorectal cancer screening of Medicare beneficiaries in family medicine vs. internal medicine practices in the United States: a cross-sectional study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2012; 12:23.
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7. Chen Y, Harrold LR, Yood RA, Field TS, Briesacher BA. Identifying patients with osteoporosis or at risk for osteoporotic fractures. Am J Manag Care. 2012 Feb; 18(2):e61-7.
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8. Tjia J, Gurwitz JH, Briesacher BA. Challenge of changing nursing home prescribing culture. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2012 Feb; 10(1):37-46.
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9. Lau DT, Briesacher BA, Touchette DR, Stubbings J, Ng JH. Medicare part d and quality of prescription medication use in older adults. Drugs Aging. 2011 Oct 1; 28(10):797-807.
  View in: PubMed
 
10. Briesacher BA, Zhao Y, Madden JM, Zhang F, Adams AS, Tjia J, Ross-Degnan D, Gurwitz JH, Soumerai SB. Medicare part d and changes in prescription drug use and cost burden: national estimates for the medicare population, 2000 to 2007. Med Care. 2011 Sep; 49(9):834-41.
  View in: PubMed
 
11. Parsons C, Briesacher BA, Givens JL, Chen Y, Tjia J. Cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine use in newly admitted nursing home residents with dementia. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Jul; 59(7):1253-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
12. Briesacher BA, Quittner AL, Fouayzi H, Zhang J, Swensen A. Nationwide trends in the medical care costs of privately insured patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), 2001-2007. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011 Aug; 46(8):770-6.
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13. Briesacher BA, Madden JM, Soumerai SB. Caution in generalizing part d results to medicare population. Arch Intern Med. 2011 Feb 28; 171(4):366-7.
  View in: PubMed
 
14. Briesacher BA, Quittner AL, Saiman L, Sacco P, Fouayzi H, Quittell LM. Adherence with tobramycin inhaled solution and health care utilization. BMC Pulm Med. 2011; 11(1):5.
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15. Chen Y, Briesacher BA. Use of instrumental variable in prescription drug research with observational data: a systematic review. J Clin Epidemiol. 2011 Jun; 64(6):687-700.
  View in: PubMed
 
16. Briesacher BA, Andrade SE, Harrold LR, Fouayzi H, Yood RA. Adherence and occurrence of fractures after switching to once-monthly oral bisphophonates. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2010 Dec; 19(12):1233-40.
  View in: PubMed
 
17. Briesacher BA, Ross-Degnan D, Wagner AK, Fouayzi H, Zhang F, Gurwitz JH, Soumerai SB. Out-of-pocket burden of health care spending and the adequacy of the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy. Med Care. 2010 Jun; 48(6):503-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
18. Briesacher BA, Soumerai SB, Field TS, Fouayzi H, Gurwitz JH. Medicare part D's exclusion of benzodiazepines and fracture risk in nursing homes. Arch Intern Med. 2010 Apr 26; 170(8):693-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
19. Briesacher BA, Andrade SE, Harrold LR, Fouayzi H, Yood RA. Adoption of once-monthly oral bisphosphonates and the impact on adherence. Am J Med. 2010 Mar; 123(3):275-80.
  View in: PubMed
 
20. Tjia J, Briesacher B, Xie D, Fu J, Goldberg RJ. Disparities in combination drug therapy use in older adults with coronary heart disease: a cross-sectional time-series in a nationally representative US sample. Drugs Aging. 2010 Feb 1; 27(2):149-58.
  View in: PubMed
 
21. Chen Y, Briesacher BA, Field TS, Tjia J, Lau DT, Gurwitz JH. Unexplained variation across US nursing homes in antipsychotic prescribing rates. Arch Intern Med. 2010 Jan 11; 170(1):89-95.
  View in: PubMed
 
22. Harrold LR, Andrade SE, Briesacher B, Raebel MA, Fouayzi H, Yood RA, Ockene IS. The dynamics of chronic gout treatment: medication gaps and return to therapy. Am J Med. 2010 Jan; 123(1):54-9.
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23. Briesacher B, Ross-Degnan D, Adams A, Wagner A, Gurwitz J, Soumerai S. A new measure of medication affordability. Soc Work Public Health. 2009 Nov-Dec; 24(6):600-12.
  View in: PubMed
 
24. Madden JM, Graves AJ, Ross-Degnan D, Briesacher BA, Soumerai SB. Cost-related medication nonadherence after implementation of Medicare Part D, 2006-2007. JAMA. 2009 Oct 28; 302(16):1755-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
25. Briesacher BA, Soumerai SB, Field TS, Fouayzi H, Gurwitz JH. Nursing home residents and enrollment in Medicare Part D. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009 Oct; 57(10):1902-7.
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26. Briesacher BA, Andrade SE, Fouayzi H, Chan KA. Medication adherence and use of generic drug therapies. Am J Manag Care. 2009 Jul; 15(7):450-6.
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27. Harrold LR, Andrade SE, Briesacher BA, Raebel MA, Fouayzi H, Yood RA, Ockene IS. Adherence with urate-lowering therapies for the treatment of gout. Arthritis Res Ther. 2009; 11(2):R46.
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28. Tjia J, Bonner A, Briesacher BA, McGee S, Terrill E, Miller K. Medication discrepancies upon hospital to skilled nursing facility transitions. J Gen Intern Med. 2009 May; 24(5):630-5.
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29. Briesacher BA, Field TS, Baril J, Gurwitz JH. Pay-for-performance in nursing homes. Health Care Financ Rev. 2009; 30(3):1-13.
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30. Briesacher BA, Field TS, Baril J, Gurwitz JH. Can pay-for-performance take nursing home care to the next level? J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Oct; 56(10):1937-9.
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31. Tjia J, Briesacher BA. Prescription drug benefits and use of guideline recommended medications by elderly Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes mellitus. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Oct; 56(10):1879-86.
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32. Madden JM, Graves AJ, Zhang F, Adams AS, Briesacher BA, Ross-Degnan D, Gurwitz JH, Pierre-Jacques M, Safran DG, Adler GS, Soumerai SB. Cost-related medication nonadherence and spending on basic needs following implementation of Medicare Part D. JAMA. 2008 Apr 23; 299(16):1922-8.
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33. Briesacher BA, Andrade SE, Fouayzi H, Chan KA. Comparison of drug adherence rates among patients with seven different medical conditions. Pharmacotherapy. 2008 Apr; 28(4):437-43.
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34. Tjia J, Briesacher BA, Soumerai SB, Pierre-Jacques M, Zhang F, Ross-Degnan D, Gurwitz JH. Medicare beneficiaries and free prescription drug samples: a national survey. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Jun; 23(6):709-14.
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35. Lau DT, Briesacher BA, Mercaldo ND, Halpern L, Osterberg EC, Jarzebowski M, McKoy JM, Mazor K. Older patients' perceptions of medication importance and worth: an exploratory pilot study. Drugs Aging. 2008; 25(12):1061-75.
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36. Briesacher BA, Limcangco MR, Frech-Tamas F. New-user persistence with antihypertensives and prescription drug cost-sharing. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2007 Nov; 9(11):831-6.
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37. Briesacher BA, Andrade SE, Yood RA, Kahler KH. Consequences of poor compliance with bisphosphonates. Bone. 2007 Nov; 41(5):882-7.
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38. Shea DG, Terza JV, Stuart BC, Briesacher B. Estimating the effects of prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. Health Serv Res. 2007 Jun; 42(3 Pt 1):933-49.
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39. Briesacher BA, Gurwitz JH, Soumerai SB. Patients at-risk for cost-related medication nonadherence: a review of the literature. J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Jun; 22(6):864-71.
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40. Field TS, Mazor KM, Briesacher B, Debellis KR, Gurwitz JH. Adverse drug events resulting from patient errors in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007 Feb; 55(2):271-6.
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41. Kirking DM, Lee JA, Ellis JJ, Briesacher B, McKercher PL. Patient-reported underuse of prescription medications: a comparison of nine surveys. Med Care Res Rev. 2006 Aug; 63(4):427-46.
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42. Gaskin DJ, Briesacher BA, Limcangco R, Brigantti BL. Exploring racial and ethnic disparities in prescription drug spending and use among Medicare beneficiaries. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2006 Jun; 4(2):96-111.
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43. Touré JT, Brandt NJ, Limcangco MR, Briesacher BA. Impact of second-generation antipsychotics on the use of antiparkinson agents in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2006 Mar; 4(1):25-35.
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44. Briesacher BA, Orwig D, Seton M, Omar M, Kahler KH. Medical care costs of Paget's disease of bone in a privately insured population. Bone. 2006 May; 38(5):731-7.
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45. Briesacher BA, Stuart B, Ren X, Doshi JA, Wrobel MV. Medicare beneficiaries and the impact of gaining prescription drug coverage on inpatient and physician spending. Health Serv Res. 2005 Oct; 40(5 Pt 1):1279-96.
  View in: PubMed
 
46. Stuart B, Briesacher BA, Shea DG, Cooper B, Baysac FS, Limcangco MR. Riding the rollercoaster: the ups and downs in out-of-pocket spending under the standard Medicare drug benefit. Health Aff (Millwood). 2005 Jul-Aug; 24(4):1022-31.
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47. Briesacher BA, Limcangco MR, Simoni-Wastila L, Doshi JA, Levens SR, Shea DG, Stuart B. The quality of antipsychotic drug prescribing in nursing homes. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Jun 13; 165(11):1280-5.
  View in: PubMed
 
48. Briesacher B, Limcangco R, Simoni-Wastila L, Doshi J, Gurwitz J. Evaluation of nationally mandated drug use reviews to improve patient safety in nursing homes: a natural experiment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Jun; 53(6):991-6.
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49. Doshi JA, Shaffer T, Briesacher BA. National estimates of medication use in nursing homes: findings from the 1997 medicare current beneficiary survey and the 1996 medical expenditure survey. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Mar; 53(3):438-43.
  View in: PubMed
 
50. Simoni-Wastila L, Zuckerman IH, Singhal PK, Briesacher B, Hsu VD. National estimates of exposure to prescription drugs with addiction potential in community-dwelling elders. Subst Abus. 2005 Mar; 26(1):33-42.
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51. Stuart B, Doshi JA, Briesacher B, Wrobel MV, Baysac F. Impact of prescription coverage on hospital and physician costs: a case study of medicare beneficiaries with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clin Ther. 2004 Oct; 26(10):1688-99.
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52. Briesacher B, Kamal-Bahl S, Hochberg M, Orwig D, Kahler KH. Three-tiered-copayment drug coverage and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Aug 9-23; 164(15):1679-84.
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53. Kamal-Bahl S, Briesacher B. How do incentive-based formularies influence drug selection and spending for hypertension? Health Aff (Millwood). 2004 Jan-Feb; 23(1):227-36.
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54. Stuart B, Kamal-Bahl S, Briesacher B, Lee E, Doshi J, Zuckerman IH, Verovsky I, Beers MH, Erwin G, Friedley N. Trends in the prescription of inappropriate drugs for the elderly between 1995 and 1999. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2003 Dec; 1(2):61-74.
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55. Kamal-Bahl SJ, Doshi JA, Stuart BC, Briesacher BA. Propoxyphene use by community-dwelling and institutionalized elderly Medicare beneficiaries. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Aug; 51(8):1099-104.
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56. Shea DG, Stuart BC, Briesacher B. Caught in between: prescription drug coverage of Medicare beneficiaries near poverty. Issue Brief (Commonw Fund). 2003 Aug; (669):1-8.
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57. Stuart B, Singhal PK, Fahlman C, Doshi J, Briesacher B. Employer-sponsored health insurance and prescription drug coverage for new retirees: dramatic declines in five years. Health Aff (Millwood). 2003 Jul-Dec; Suppl Web Exclusives:W3-334-41.
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58. Wrobel MV, Doshi J, Stuart BC, Briesacher B. Predictability of prescription drug expenditures for Medicare beneficiaries. Health Care Financ Rev. 2003; 25(2):37-46.
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59. Shea DG, Stuart BC, Briesacher B. Participation and crowd-out in a Medicare drug benefit: simulation estimates. Health Care Financ Rev. 2003; 25(2):47-61.
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60. Briesacher B, Limcangco R, Gaskin D. Racial and ethnic disparities in prescription coverage and medication use. Health Care Financ Rev. 2003; 25(2):63-76.
  View in: PubMed
 
61. Stuart B, Briesacher B. Medication decisions--right and wrong. Med Care Res Rev. 2002 Jun; 59(2):123-45.
  View in: PubMed
 
62. Briesacher B, Stuart B, Shea D. Drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries: why protection may be in jeopardy. Issue Brief (Commonw Fund). 2002 Jan; (505):1-8.
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63. Stuart B, Shea D, Briesacher B. Dynamics in drug coverage of Medicare beneficiaries: finders, losers, switchers. Health Aff (Millwood). 2001 Mar-Apr; 20(2):86-99.
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64. Stuart B, Briesacher B, Shea D. Designing a Medicare drug benefit: whose needs will be met? Policy Brief Commonw Fund. 2000 Dec; (436):1-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
65. Stuart B, Shea D, Briesacher B. Prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries: coverage and health status matter. Issue Brief (Commonw Fund). 2000 Jan; (365):1-9.
  View in: PubMed
 
66. Briesacher BA, Stuart B, Peluso R. Drug use and prescribing problems in the community-dwelling elderly: a study of three state Medicaid programs. Clin Ther. 1999 Dec; 21(12):2156-72.
  View in: PubMed
 
67. Stuart B, Briesacher BA, Ahern F, Kidder D, Zacker C, Erwin G, Gilden D, Fahlman C. Drug use and prescribing problems in four state Medicaid programs. Health Care Financ Rev. 1999; 20(3):63-78.
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68. Briesacher B, Corey R. Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical services at independent and chain pharmacies. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1997 Mar 1; 54(5):531-6.
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69. Briesacher B, Erwin WG. Managed care organizations: the new research partners. Med Interface. 1995 Dec; 8(12):68-73, 77.
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70. Briesacher B, DuChane J. Drug utilization review in the managed care environment. Med Interface. 1995 Mar; 8(3):72-4, 76-8.
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71. McGhan WF, Briesacher BA. Implementing pharmacoeconomic outcomes management. Pharmacoeconomics. 1994 Nov; 6(5):412-6.
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72. Lewis NJ, Patwell JT, Briesacher BA. The role of insurance claims databases in drug therapy outcomes research. Pharmacoeconomics. 1993 Nov; 4(5):323-30.
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Keyword
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Institution
    
 
 
 
Keywords   
Medicare
Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services
Nursing Homes
Insurance Coverage
Patient Compliance
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Co-Authors  
Andrade, Susan
Field, Terry
Gurwitz, Jerry
Harrold, Leslie
Tjia, Jennifer
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Physical Neighbors  
Owens, Jane
Tjia, Jennifer
Brehm, Michael
Field, Terry
McGimpsey, William

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