Trend in Cot of Major Eye Dieae to Medicare, 1991 to 2000

Purpoe To etimate impact of phyician-diagnoed eye dieae (age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma) on Medicare payment in the period 1991 to 1995 and 1996 to 2000. Deign A retropective cohort tudy to etimate program payment per capita and in total for each of the major eye dieae and the four eye dieae in total. Method Data from the 1994 and 1999 National Long-Term Care urvey (NLTC) and medical claim to Medicare from 1991 to 2000 were merged with the NLTC. Medicare payment for eye-related procedure on peron with and without major eye dieae a reported on Medicare claim and elf-reported data from NLTC. Reult Overall, the burden of major eye dieae wa to increae Medicare pending by $4.8 billion (1999 UD) in 1991 to 1995 and by $4.5 billion in 1996 to 2000. The mot expenive eye dieae wa cataract, coting Medicare $3.8 billion in 1991 to 1995 and $3 billion in 1996 to 2000. Concluion Prevalence of major eye dieae increaed over time, but the effect of major eye dieae on Medicare payment decreaed, mainly a a reult of lower payment for cataract urgery in the later year.