Work

Characterizing behavioral health-related emergency department utilization among children with Medicaid: Comparing high and low frequency utilizers

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Sean Lynch PhD, LCSW*a, Jesse Pines MDb, Ryan Mutter PhDa, Judith L. Teich MSWa & Phyllis Hendry MDca U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics & Quality, Rockville, MD, USAb Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USAc Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USACONTACT Sean Lynch [email protected] Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics & Quality, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20857ABSTRACTWhile the frequency of children’s behavioral health (BH)-related visits to the emergency department (ED) is rising nationwide, few studies have examined predictors of high rates of ED use. This study examines Florida Medicaid claims (2011–2012) for children age 0–18 who were seen in an emergency department (ED) for behavioral health (BH) conditions. A logistic regression model was used to explore factors associated with frequent ED use and patterns of psychotropic medication utilization. The majority (95%) of patients with at least one BH-related ED visit had three or fewer of these visits, but 5% had four or more. Seventy-four percent of ED visits were not associated with psychotropic medication, including over half (54%) of visits for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Frequent ED use was higher among older children and those with substance use disorders. The implementation of interventions that reduce non-emergent ED visits through the provision of care coordination, social work services, and/or the use of community health workers as care navigators may address these findings.

Source: Social Work in Health Care

DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2019.1653418

Authors: Sean Lynch, Jesse Pines, Ryan Mutter, Judith L. Teich, Phyllis Hendry

Institutions: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, George Washington University, University of Florida

Language: English

Topic: Emergency and Acute Care Studies

Subfield: Emergency Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, State of Florida