Emergency departments (EDs) will face increased sustainability risks in the near- and long-term future, according to a new report from nonprofit research firm RAND. As EDs struggle with financial prospects and meeting community demand, nearby urgent care operators might see increased volumes of higher-acuity patient visits. Among the leading issues are the fact that some of the necessary services provided in hospital EDs are not directly reimbursed by public or private payers, while at the same time, payment is also declining. Hospital EDs provide as many as 140 million visits each year, and the current trend shows increases in visits between 2020 and 2024, according to the research.
Some ideas: The research report offers a few practical recommendations such as promoting advocacy for favorable funding legislation and investment in local care capacity that could help reduce the strain on EDs. One unique proposal suggests that insurers should be responsible for collecting the out-of-pocket deductibles and copays for ED services from their enrollees.