Insomnia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are common mental health conditions in the Medicare population. Approximately 50% of older adults complain about poor sleep, and insomnia medications were prescribed to approximately 30% of beneficiaries. This research report uses real-world medical and pharmacy claims data to identify the prevalence of GAD and insomnia in the Medicare fee-for-service population, use of psychotherapy and receipt of psychotherapy prior to the initiation of second-line pharmacotherapy in beneficiaries with GAD and insomnia, and pharmacotherapy utilization patterns of drugs used to treat GAD and insomnia. The report focuses on how these patterns align with evidence-based guidelines specified in US Food and Drug Administration drug labels and developed by professional organizations.

This report was commissioned by Big Health Inc.