Research published in the Journal of Medical Economics examined the role Exparel plays in reducing opioid consumption and hospital costs following total knee arthroplasty surgery.
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of hospital chargemaster data from the Premier Healthcare Database for 10 hospitals with the highest number of primary total knee arthroplasty procedures using Exparel from January 2011 through April 2017. Patients who received Exparel were matched to a control group who did not use Exparel for pain management. Outcomes studied included length of stay in the hospital, 30-day same hospital readmission, costs and discharge status. The study population included 20,907 Medicare patients, and 12,505 patients with commercial insurance.
Here are the key research insights to know:
1. The length of stay in the Exparel group was shorter by 0.6 days.
2. Patients who received Exparel were 1.6 times more likely to be discharged home than the non-Exparel group.
3. Hospitalization costs for total knee arthroplasty were lower for the Exparel group for those with Medicare and commercial insurance.
4. Opioid consumption was lower in the Exparel group for patients covered by Medicare and commercial insurance.
5. There weren't any significant differences between the patient groups for 30-day hospital readmissions.
"In a subset of 10 U.S. hospitals with the highest use of Exparel TKA, LB use was associated with shorter hospital LOS, increased home discharge, lower total hospitalization costs and decreased opioid use after TKA," the researchers concluded.
On Dec. 4, learn more about Exparel in a free webinar titled "CMS Reimburses Non-Opioid Postsurgical Pain Management in the ASC: A Review of the New CMS Rules and Opportunity for ASCs." Click here to register for the webinar and learn more about coding and billing for Exparel under the new rules.