AHIMA hopes data gathering and sharing will help address the issue.
Every day, more than 115 people in the United States die as a result of opioid overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NDA).
Tracing the origin of the crisis to the widespread distribution of opioid pain relievers in the 1990s, when pharmaceutical companies insisted that the drugs were not addictive, the NDA has reported that healthcare providers began prescribing them at greater rates – and that the opioids turned out to be highly addictive indeed.
Enter the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and its data analytics practice council, which today is using data to help address the misuse of prescription opioids, which costs the U.S. an estimated $78.5 billion annually in terms of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and the nation’s criminal justice system, according to today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
So what can healthcare organizations do with this data analysis? And what is AHIMA doing to shed more light on this epidemic? For insight, we interviewed Lesley Kadlec, MA, RHIA, CHDA, who serves as director of Health Information Management (HIM) Practice Excellence at AHIMA, to learn how health data can be used to respond to the crisis and how and when it’s appropriate to share the data.
Buck: How can data be used to respond to the opioid crisis?
AHIMA: Health data analysts can use both real-time and retrospective data to understand physician prescribing patterns, prescription quantities (such as the number of pills prescribed per written prescription), and opioid refill rates – and to compare this data to the types of illnesses and surgeries (for which) opioid painkillers are being prescribed. Health records are rich with data, and data analysts can use their skills to tap into electronic health records and uncover patterns that help make the data actionable.
Buck: How is this data being collected?
AHIMA: The increased use of health IT, including the widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs), has resulted in an increase in data capture, including opioid prescribing information and data on abuse, overdoses, and use of overdose antidotes. Additionally, states that have a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) collect information on filled prescriptions for controlled substances, and that data is being made available to clinicians to assist them in making prescribing decisions.
Buck: How is the information from this data being shared in the field? In other words, what’s the feedback loop?
AHIMA: Clinical decision support tools are being deployed that allow real-time feedback to clinicians at the time of prescribing; for example, this includes integration of PDMPs with EHRs. Interactive dashboards are being used to provide internal and external data on a number of opioid-related statistics, such as emergency department visits, opioid-related deaths, neonatal addictions, etc.
Buck: Are there any examples of this? Any field research?
AHIMA: At least one state (Illinois) has launched a statewide dashboard to share information among healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations to demonstrate how opioids are affecting its population and to get data into the hands of caregivers to help alleviate the crisis.
Buck: I assume the discussion is about prescription opioids?
AHIMA: While our team’s work to date has focused on prescriptive opioids, we recognize that the problem extends beyond prescribing to include nonprescriptive opioid use, though accurate data around nonprescriptive use is more difficult to obtain.
Buck: When was the AHIMA data analytics practice council formed, and are there other projects being undertaken at this time?
AHIMA: The AHIMA Data Analytics Practice Council was launched in January 2018. Many members of the Practice Council had served in volunteer roles on other informatics and data analytics practice councils and task forces in the past as well. The Data Analytics Practice Council is developing a number of articles for publication in the “Advancing Analytics” column for upcoming editions of the Journal of AHIMA, as well as recording Data Dive webinars (complimentary) and writing blog posts for the AHIMA Data Revolution blog.
Program Note:
Listen to Lesley Kadlec today on TalkTenTuesdays, 10-10:30 a.m. EST.
Hotly anticipated performance targets and payment amounts for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model
EDITOR’S NOTE: The narrative in this article reflects the firsthand perspectives and professional experience of Tami McMasters Gomez, curated and prepared for publication by Penny
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Uncover essential coding insights with nationally recognized coding authority Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS. Through ICD10monitor’s interactive, on‑demand webcast series, Kay walks you through the AHA’s 2026 ICD‑10‑CM/PCS Quarterly Coding Clinics, translating each update into practical, easy‑to‑apply guidance designed to sharpen precision, ensure compliance, and strengthen day‑to‑day decision‑making. Available shortly after each official release.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s third quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Uncover critical guidance on the ICD-10-CM/PCS code updates. Kay Piper reviews and explains ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines in the AHA’s second quarter 2026 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
Federal auditors are intensifying their focus on inpatient psychiatric facilities, using advanced data analytics to spotlight outliers and pursue high‑dollar repayments. In this high‑impact webcast, Michael Calahan, PA, MBA, Compliance Officer and V.P., Hospital & Physician Compliance, breaks down what regulators are really targeting in IPF-PPS admissions, documentation, treatment and discharge planning. Attendees will learn practical steps to tighten processes, avoid common audit triggers and protect reimbursement and reduce the risk of multimillion-dollar repayment demands.
In this timely session, Stacey Shillito, CDIP, CPMA, CCS, CCS-P, CPEDC, COPC, breaks down the complexities of Medical Decision Making (MDM) documentation so providers can confidently capture the true complexity of their care. Attendees will learn practical, efficient strategies to ensure documentation aligns with current E/M guidelines, supports accurate coding, and reduces audit risk, all without adding to charting time.
Join Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM for The PEPPER Returns – Risk and Opportunity at Your Fingertips, a practical webcast that demystifies the PEPPER and shows you how to turn complex claims data into actionable insights. Dr. Hirsch will explain how to interpret key measures, identify compliance risks, uncover missed revenue opportunities, and understand new updates in the PEPPER, all to help your organization stay ahead of audits and use this powerful data proactively.
Stay ahead of the 2026-2027 audit surge with “Top 10 Audit Targets for 2026-2027 for Hospitals & Physicians: Protect Your Revenue,” a high-impact webcast led by Michael Calahan, PA, MBA. This concise session gives hospitals and physicians clear insight into the most likely federal audit targets, such as E/M services, split/shared and critical care, observation and admissions, device credits, and Two-Midnight Rule changes, and shows how to tighten documentation, coding, and internal processes to reduce denials, recoupments, and penalties. Attendees walk away with practical best practices to protect revenue, strengthen compliance, and better prepare their teams for inevitable audits.
Prepare for the 2025 CMS IPPS Final Rule with ICD10monitor’s IPPSPalooza! Click HERE to learn more
Get 15% OFF on all educational webcasts at ICD10monitor with code JULYFOURTH24 until July 4, 2024—start learning today!
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 1 with code CYBER25
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
