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.