Changes in federal funding may influence access to reconstructive surgery for severe pressure injuries
It has been known for over four decades that these patients who are managed without reconstructive surgery have a very poor prognosis.”
— Greg Vigna, MD, JD
LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, March 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Dr. Greg Vigna, MD, JD, an expert in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and wound care, and Chief Medical Officer of Injury Care Solutions Group, states, “Access to life-saving reconstructive surgery for Stage III and Stage IV pressure injuries has been cut by the Federal Government.”
Code of Federal Regulations 42 U.S.C. § 1395ww(m)(6)(A): “Under this dual-rate structure, generally a LTCH is no longer reimbursed at the standard Federal rate if the patient did not spend at least three days in a hospital’s intensive care unit immediately preceding the LTCH care, or did not receive at least 96 hours of respiratory ventilation services during the LTCH stay.”
Dr. Vigna continues, “As the Medical Director of the Wound Care Program at Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana, we provided plastic surgery reconstructive procedures and saved the lives of 300-400 patients who elected for curative care.”
Dr. Vigna describes the outcomes of Stage IV pressure injuries to the sacrum, coccyx, ischium, or trochanter that are complicated by osteomyelitis: “It has been known for over four decades that these patients who are managed without reconstructive surgery have a very poor prognosis.”
Dr. Laura Damioli, MD, describes outcomes for Stage III and Stage IV decubitus ulcers who are not provided flap closure from Therapeutic Advances in Inf...
English (US)