Silver Book Fact
Medicare beneficiaries with diabetic macular edema (DME) had 31% higher 1-year costs and 29% higher 3-year costs compared to diabetic Medicare beneficiaries without DME.
Shea A, Curtis L, Hammill B, Kowalski J, et al. Resource Use and Costs Associated with Diabetic Macular Edema in Elderly Persons. Arch Opthalmol. 2008; 126(12): 1748-54. http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/126/12/1748