CAMPs Articles

Some of CAMPs’ KOL’s have been discussing and researching the hot topic that is CAMPs, from exploring the consequences of a lack of clinical evidence to support their efficacy, to evaluating the comorbidities, treatment patterns and outcomes of Medicare enrolees who developed venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and of the latest controversy on reimbursement rates following a dramatic increase in the number of CAMPs over the last few years. Read the full texts to find out more.

Serena commentary: Dr Thomas Serena discusses the consequences in real-time of not providing guidance on the minimal amount of evidence required to recommend a CAMP (cellular, acellular matrix-based product) for patients. He argues that more clinical evidence needs to be published to support their efficacy.

Navigating obstacles impacting the sustainability of Medicare-funded wound care pricing: As the US population continues to age, costs for hard-to-heal wounds are expected to rise and negatively contribute to the long-term financial stability of Medicare, which is currently labelled a ‘high-risk’ program by the US Government Accountability Office. Within wound care, some skin substitutes, also known as cellular tissue products (CTPs), and now referred to as CAMPS (cellular, acellular, and matrix-like products), have demonstrated improved healing times and cost-effective usage. However, a dramatic increase in the number of CAMPs has led to controversy on reimbursement rates.

Treatment patterns and outcomes of Medicare enrolees who developed venous leg ulcers: Comorbidities, treatment patterns and outcomes of Medicare enrolees who developed venous leg ulcers (VLUs) were retrospectively evaluated. Patients diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and a VLU were propensity matched into four groups based on their treatment regimen. Episode claims were used to document demographics, comorbidities and treatments of Medicare enrolees who developed VLUs, as well as important outcomes, such as time to ulcer closure, rates of complications and hospital utilisation rates. Medicare patients at risk of a VLU who receive early identification and advanced CAMP treatment demonstrated improved quality of life and significantly reduced healthcare resource utilisation.