Los Angeles, CA – September 5, 2024 – The American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS) is proud to share groundbreaking research led by two of its key opinion leaders in limb preservation, David G. Armstrong and Dr. Tze Woei Tan. Their study, published in Diabetology, reveals a significant reduction in major amputation rates for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients who transition from Medicaid to commercial insurance.
Co-authored by teams from USC, University of Arizona, and Washington State University, the study analyzed 8,856 Medicaid patients with DFUs from 2010 to 2019. Of these, 66% transitioned to commercial insurance. Using advanced statistical methods like propensity matching and logistic regression, the researchers found that patients who transitioned had a 27% lower risk of major amputation compared to those who remained on Medicaid. The overall amputation rate was 2.8%, with 2.6% in the transitioned group and 3.2% in the continuous Medicaid group.
The study’s multivariable analysis further demonstrated that transitioning to commercial insurance was associated with a significantly reduced risk of major amputation (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.22–0.55, p = 0.01 in the matched cohort). These findings underscore the critical role insurance coverage plays in the health outcomes of vulnerable populations.
“This study shows the profound impact insurance can have on health outcomes, particularly for complex conditions like DFUs,” said David G. Armstrong, founding president of ALPS and senior author. “Transitioning to commercial insurance appears to significantly reduce the risk of life-altering amputations.”
Dr. Tze Woei Tan, DFCon course director and senior co-author, emphasized the importance of addressing healthcare disparities, stating, “Ensuring access to comprehensive care through insurance transitions could play a key role in improving long-term outcomes for vulnerable populations.”
“These findings represent a positive step in improving patient outcomes,” added Georgia Krehbiel, CEO of ALPS. “They underscore the potential for policy changes to reduce preventable amputations and enhance care for vulnerable populations.”
For more information, please contact:
Alison Evans
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
American Limb Preservation Society
alison@alpslimb.org
To read the original study, please visit Diabetology’s website.