Retrospective Payor Claims Analysis of Patients Receiving Outpatient Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Remote Therapy Monitoring.

INTRODUCTION: Patient nonadherence to home care treatment poses an obstacle to wound healing that can lead to additional costs and prolong care.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective pilot study examines the potential time and cost savings associated with a remote therapy monitoring (RTM) program designed to improve negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) adherence in the home care setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Payor claims data of patients receiving NPWT with (n = 199) or without (n = 232) RTM between January 1 and June 30, 2017 were analyzed.

RESULTS: The RTM patients were significantly older (P = .0401), had a higher percentage of Medicare Advantage plans (P = .0015), and had a higher mean Charleston Comorbidity Index score (P = .0115) than non-RTM patients. For both groups, chronic wounds had higher 90-day wound-related costs than acute wounds. The median length of treatment for RTM patients was shorter than non-RTM patients (P = .0394). Mean 90-day wound-related costs for RTM and non-RTM patients were $10 515 and $12 158, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: These results build upon previous studies of RTM-assisted outpatient NPWT and suggest an opportunity for wound care cost savings.