Appropriate and timely use of emergency room services is a priority for ensuring quality health care services and managing health care costs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adults with self-reported mental disorders are more likely to have higher ER expenditures than those without mental health diagnoses. Utilizing data from the 1996 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS), a multivariate linear regression was conducted on all adults with at least one ER visit. Results did not confirm the hypothesis that having a mental disorder is significantly related to increased ER expenditures although age, race, income level, and insurance coverage were significantly associated with higher expenditures. These findings are important because high emergency room expenditures can be an indicator of poorer health status, lack of access to primary health care, under-use use of preventive health services, or over-use of emergency services.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: Identify predictors of increased emergency room expenditures; Evaluate the strengths and limitations of utilizing the MEPS database to analyze the relationship between mental disorders and ER expenditures
Keywords: Emergency Department/Room, Economic Analysis
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.