September 24, 2009

Emergency Department Visits in Massachusetts: Who Uses Emergency Care & Why?

Researchers Sharon K. Long and Karen Stockley of the Urban Institute reviewed the responses of a fall 2008 survey of 4,041 Massachusetts residents between the ages of 18 and 64. The researchers collected information on insurance status, access to care, out-of-pocket health care costs, medical debt, and information about other general financial problems. The survey also included questions on the number of emergency department visits over the past 12 months and emergency department use for non-emergency conditions. The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded the research.