Evaluation of diabetes primary care and effects on health care charges in elderly patients with diabeties.

Background: This study assessed diabetes out-patient care at a single institution in Medicare patients with significant health care expenditures and correlated the control of these patients with hospital admission rates and charges.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed at a university health sciences center's clinics and affiliated hospital. Medicare patients with Type 2 diabetes, >65 years, and hospitalized >1 in the past year with annual incurred Medicare charges of >$6,000 were included in the study.