Journal of Medical Economics: New Study Shows Decrease in Chronic Wound Medicare Costs Amid Increase in Chronic Wound Prevalence

A new study published online in the Journal of Medical Economics demonstrates the shifting economic impact of chronic nonhealing wounds in Medicare patients as site of care settings have shifted. The study “Chronic wound prevalence and the associated cost of treatment in Medicare beneficiaries: changes between 2014 and 2019” analyzed 2019 Medicare datasets to determine the cost of chronic wound care for Medicare beneficiaries in aggregate, by wound type, and by setting, then compared figures with a previous analysis of 2014 data to identify shifts and trends. The findings show a 13 percent increase in chronic wound care prevalence amid a surprising 20 percent decrease in chronic wound care costs. The team of researchers explain possible drivers of these trends and what the policy implications may be.
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