In states that have undergone Medicaid expansion, emergency room visits have climbed 8.8 percent on average among Medicaid recipients, according to a new study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
The study also found that, in those same states, the rate of uninsured patients in the emergency room declined 5.3 percent.
The study found total ED use per 1,000 people increased by 2.5 visits more in Medicaid expansion states than in nonexpansion states. Categorically, the largest increases in ED visits stemmed from Medicaid patients visiting the ED for injuries and states with the largest changes in Medicaid enrollment.
To collect their data, researchers compared 14 expansion states to 11 non-expansion states both before and after the expansions were enacted.
The difference in payer mix and emergency room rates took place under the ACA's Medicaid expansion, so it remains to be seen how the bill's imminent repeal will influence these rates.
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