Cost of care for diabetes in Wisconsin hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in 1996.

Diabetes mellitus imposes a significant financial burden on Wisconsin's health care system. One portion of this burden is attributable to the cost of hospitalizing diabetes patients. During 1996 hospital inpatients with a principal diagnosis of diabetes generated over $60 million in hospital charges (physician fees excluded). Ambulatory surgery patients generated an additional $3.4 million in facility charges. This article examines those costs, according to age and gender, expected pay source, and by county. It also reports the reasons for hospitalization and ambulatory surgery for patients whose principal diagnosis was diabetes. Employers, public health professionals, physicians and managed care firms are interested in containing the social and personal costs of diabetes mellitus. This paper explores the financial burden associated with hospitalization and ambulatory surgeries for diabetes in Wisconsin for 1996.