Hospital outpatient ER visits by Medicaid recipients increased more than 6%

SDI, a leading healthcare market insight and analytics firm, today reported that the number of Medicaid-subsidized inpatient hospital stays originating in the emergency room increased more than 6% in 2009 compared to 2008. The growth rate of all inpatient hospital stays that began in the hospital outpatient ER was less at just over 1%.

“The trend is consistent with other information that suggests that people who are unable to afford medical treatment will seek care at a hospital, where they know it will not be denied.”

Additionally, in 2009, hospital outpatient ER visits by Medicaid recipients increased more than 6%, while total hospital outpatient ER visits nationwide dropped 1.3%.

"The current poor state of the economy is likely a contributing factor to the rise in Medicaid inpatient and outpatient hospital encounters," said Joe Priest, SDI Vice President of Hospital, Payer, and Government Services. "The trend is consistent with other information that suggests that people who are unable to afford medical treatment will seek care at a hospital, where they know it will not be denied."