Dobson | DaVanzo recently partnered with AAHomecare and VieMed to conduct a study measuring the differences in outcomes and overall treatment costs between patients with significant respiratory challenges who received non-invasive (NIV) therapy compared to patients who do not utilize NIV. 

Our team analyzed Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries with a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and/or Chronic Respiratory Failure (COPD-CRF). We compared outcomes of beneficiaries with COPD and/or CRF who received NIV therapy within two months of diagnosis to the outcomes of beneficiaries who did not receive the therapy after weighting by demographic and clinical factors. 

The results demonstrated that early initiation of NIV therapy is associated with significant reduction in mortality, Emergency Department (ED) visits, hospitalization, 30-day readmission and Medicare spending for FFS patients. Similarly, the results demonstrated that the early initiation of NIV therapy is associated with significant reduction in ED visits, hospitalization, outpatient visits, and 30-day readmission for MA patients. The results of this study can be used to inform CMS policies, improve patient health outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.