Usage and cost of laser trabeculoplasty in the United States.

To determine annual usage and costs of laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) in the United States, we reviewed data from the Health Care Financing Administration from 1986 to 2000, using the Part B Extract and Summary System (BESS). The annual number of LTP procedures performed increased to a peak number of 176,670 in 1992 and has declined since that time, with a 57% reduction in the number of procedures performed in 2000 (75,838) compared with the peak number. The total allowed charges declined from a peak of $137,127,436 in 1991 to $27,622,073 in 2000 (80% reduction). The average allowed charge per procedure was highest in 1989 ($893), and by 2000 the average charge ($359) was reduced by 60% compared with the peak charge. The total number of LTP procedures performed in Medicare beneficiaries has decreased in recent years compared with the peak number in 1992. In recent years, there also has been a marked reduction in the total allowed charges and the average charge per procedure for LTP.