A recent study in the Journal of Wound Care reported on the impact of dual-enrolee (Medicare/Medicaid) status on venous leg ulcer (VLU) outcomes in more than 555,000 Medicare beneficiaries. The study found that patients with dual-enrollee status have incomes ranging from slightly above, at, or below the poverty level; greater numbers of comorbidities; and are more than twice as likely to be from an ethnic minority group compared with Medicare-only enrollees. Their socioeconomic status is associated with VLU treatments that take longer to close, develop higher numbers of complications, and use significantly more hospital resources, resulting in greater expense. Many Social Determinants Of Health (SDOH) impact the outcomes for these patients and are differentiated from patients covered only by Medicare. Outcomes improved when dual-enrollees were treated with a cellular, acellular, and matrix-like product (CAMP), such as dehydrated human amnion chorion membrane (DHACM), while following parameters for use (FPFU). Socioeconomic variables are associated with poor outcomes for patients with VLUs and should be tracked to find opportunities, such as DHACM treatments FPFU, to improve health outcomes and quality of life. SDOH deserves increased attention to improve patient outcomes. This study was supported by MiMedX.
Source: Wahab N, Tettelbach WH, Driver V, et al. The impact of dual-enrolee (Medicare/Medicaid) status on venous leg ulcer outcomes: a retrospective study. J Wound Care. 2024;33(12):886-892. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2024.0174.
