Frequency of Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab Injections for Diabetic Macular Edema in Medicare Beneficiaries

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in individuals aged between 20 years and 74 years in the United States.1 Among those with DR, the number one cause of visual impairment is diabetic macular edema (DME).2 The advent of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for the treatment of DME has greatly improved clinical outcomes in patients compared to laser therapy.3 However, the annual costs of anti-VEGF therapy exceeded $2.3 billion among the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population in 2008.4 Medicare reimbursements were $50 per bevacizumab (Avastin;

Source: Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging : the Official Journal of the International Society for Imaging in the Eye - April 19, 2018 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Connie M. Wu, MD Source Type: research