NEW DATA SHOWS IRHYTHM TECHNOLOGIES' ZIO® SERVICE REDUCES COST OF ARRHYTHMIA DETECTION COMPARED TO STANDARD DIAGNOSTIC METHODS
SAN FRANCISCO – February 12, 2015– iRhythm Technologies, Inc., a leading digital health care solutions company focusing on the advancement of cardiac care, today announced the study, "Cost Analysis and Clinical Outcomes of Ambulatory Care Monitoring in Medicare Patients," was published in the Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research that assessed the costs incurred in the diagnosis, additional monitoring and following clinical events after the initial use of the Holter monitor among Medicare patients with arrhythmia.
Researchers performed a retrospective, longitudinal claims analysis using a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries' claims from the Fee-for-Service (FFS) Standard Analytic Files. The analysis was limited to patients with full benefits for one year prior and 2 years post the index 24- or 48- hour Holter monitor, with no prior arrhythmia or Holter.
The study, which was funded by iRhythm, suggests that the lack of diagnosis or the need for additional testing after the initial use of the Holter monitor resulted in $45 million, or slightly more than $23,000 per patient, in unneccesary Medicare spending. When extrapolated over the entire Medicare Fees-for-Service population, the total was more than $900 million over the two-year study period in unneccesary spending.
"Arrhythmias are difficult to diagnose. A Holter monitor is typically used to record the heart's electrical signals for a 24- or 48-hour period. However, arrhythmias do occur outside that window," said Judy Lenane, RN, MHA, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of iRhythm Technologies, Inc. "The ZIO Service records and stores beat-to-beat data in its entirety, which can provide a more complete picture to a healthcare provider and allow for more accurate diagnosis. We provide a significant advantage as the ZIO Service potentially eliminates the need for furthering testing, resulting in reduced healthcare costs."
In a separate analysis conducted by an independent third-party research organization, Decision Driver Analytics, Inc., preliminary findings showed that initial use of the ZIO Service is expected to reduce two-year costs of diagnosing and managing arrhythmia by an average of $5,500 per patient compared to the Holter monitor.
"We are very pleased about the growing body of data that further validate the cost effectiveness of the ZIO Service compared to traditional approaches to arrhythmia detection," said Kevin King, president and chief executive officer of iRhythm Technologies. "iRhythm is focused on creating solutions that change the way clinicians diagnose difficult to detect arrhythmias, streamlining the diagnoses to treatment pathway while significantly decreasing healthcare costs."
Furthermore, previous studies have shown the ZIO Service ruled-in or ruled-out arrhythmia in an average of three to four weeks compared to only 36% of patients obtaining a definitive diagnosis within two years if their initial diagnostic is a Holter monitor. In addition, in patients with arrhythmia, the ZIO Service provided immediate diagnosis, eliminating the need for additional diagnostic testing and enabling immediate and appropriate treatment 94 percent of the time.
The ZIO Service integrates easy-to-use biosensor technology that captures electrocardiography data for up to 14 days, powerful analytics and medical expertise for improved arrhythmia detection.
About iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
iRhythm is a leading digital healthcare company focused on cardiac arrhythmia detection. The company combines wearable biosensor devices with mobile and cloud-based technology to improve how heart arrhythmias are diagnosed and managed. iRhythm's digital health technology and diagnostic support services provide clear, actionable information for physicians, and are clinically proven to enhance clinical decision making and lower healthcare costs. Its flagship solution, the ZIO Service, offers a proven approach to long-term continuous monitoring that enables diagnosis earlier in the clinical pathway to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. For more information, please visitwww.irhythmtech.com.
Media Contact
Amanda Breeding
415-229-7649