Study Shows ER Visits Up Under ACA

A study shows that ER visits have increased as more people have gotten coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This expected short term outcome isn’t ideal, but speaks to habits of the previously uninsured, the fact that ER visits are covered under the ACA, and an increased doc shortage as demand outpaces supply in the short term.

In the long term the healthcare provider workforce would be expected to grow and as people got used to having insurance more insured Americans would rely on primary doctors, urgent care, and other non-emergency solutions.

Emergency room visits may be up, but today more people are using insurance to pay for visits rather than simply sticking hospitals with unpaid bills.

Facts on Medicaid, ER Usage, and the New Report

We look at some facts behind the May 4th, 2015 American College of Emergency Physicians report on ER usage and the corresponding new 2015 acep poll affordable care act research results poll on ER usage below.

But first, let’s discuss the ER issue broadly:

• Before the ACA there was only one way for the uninsured to get healthcare, and that is the ER. This behavior hasn’t changed as more people get Medicaid coverage, despite efforts by HHS and other groups to spread awareness of how to use coverage.
• Under the ACA both Medicaid and Marketplace coverage cover emergency room visits as part of Ten Essential Benefits. That means all plans cover ER visits.
• The correct thing to do would be to make an appointment with a doctor in non-emergency situations, use urgent care in immediate but less drastic situations, and to only use the ER in true or perceived emergency situations like chest pain.
• The ACA incentivizes new doctors and healthcare workers, but adding healthcare providers to the workforce is something that happens over time. With uncertainty about the law and a spike in newly insured, demand is outpacing supply. Doctor wait times, especially for Medicaid and lower-premium Marketplace plans can be weeks or even months currently.

Facts from the American College of Emergency Physicians report on ER:

• Most of the respondents to the poll report little or no reductions in the volume of emergency visits due to the availability of urgent care centers, retail clinics and telephone triage lines.
• About 90 percent of more than 2,000 respondents say the severity of illness or injury among emergency patients has either increased (44%) or remained the same (42%).
• More than one-quarter (28%) report significant increases in all emergency patients since the requirement to have health insurance took effect.  In addition, more than half (56%) say the number of Medicaid patients is increasing.
• Since the implementation of the ACA, the majority of member physicians have noticed an increase in the volume of emergency patients. Specifically, 47% of emergency physicians indicate slight increases in the number of patients, while 28% of respondents report significant increases in the number of emergency patients.
• Over half of emergency physicians indicate that the volume of Medicaid patients increased greatly (24%) or slightly (32%).
• 70% of member physicians believe their emergency department is not adequately prepared for potentially substantial increases in patient volume.
• Approximately 4 in 10 respondents report the acuity of emergency patients’ injuries or illnesses has remained the same since January 1, 2014. 44% of current members have noticed significant (14%) or slight (30%) increases in the acuity of emergency patients’ injuries or illnesses in their emergency department.
• Despite urgent care centers, 43% of member physicians report the volume of patients with less severe illness at their emergency department remains the same.
• For the majority of current members (49%), retail clinics have not changed the volume of patients with less severe illness at their emergency department. About one-quarter (26%) of respondents are unsure of the impact retail clinics have had on patient volume.
• 44% of respondents report that they are unsure how the volume of patients with less severe illness has changed. However, 39% of respondents indicate that the volume of patients with less severe illness remains the same.
• Notwithstanding the availability of more primary care options, the volume of patients with less severe illness remains relatively unchanged for 49% of respondents. 23% of current members are unsure about the impact of more primary care options on the number of patients.
• In spite of the reductions in reimbursement for emergency care, 66% of member physicians indicate that they have not considered leaving the practice of medicine, although 34% have considered leaving the profession.
• When asked if efforts are being made in their community or state to reduce the number of emergency patient visits, 41% of respondents report that no efforts are being made. 38% of respondents report that efforts are being made to decrease the number of emergency patient visits.
• Almost 6 in 10 current members’ communities or states are not actively involved in diverting Medicaid patients from the emergency department.
• 83% of member physicians have concerns about efforts being made to reduce emergency visits. Most respondents are concerned that patients will delay medical care or go to a less skilled site (44%). Other concerns about current efforts include their minimal impact on decreasing the volume of patients (44%) or lessening health care spending (41%).
• When asked how elimination of federal subsidies would affect emergency departments, 73% of respondents indicate that emergency visits will increase (42%) or remain the same (31%). Only 12% of current members report either that emergency visits will decrease (10%) or their emergency department will be at risk of closing (2%) if the government eliminated federal subsidies for health insurance.
• The majority of current members (65%) indicate that reimbursement for emergency care will decrease if the federal government were to eliminate federal subsidies for health insurance coverage in their state.
• 65% of respondents indicate that they have not stopped accepting payments from a health insurance plan or plans that are taking them out-of-network. Only 5% of current members have stopped accepting payment from a health insurance plan(s) that are taking them out-of-network.
• 64% of current members say that the time spent organizing patient care following visits to the emergency department has increased since January 1, 2014.
• 47% of member physicians believe demands for care coordination are increasing due to increased difficulty in finding/arranging timely follow-up with primary care physicians and/or specialists.