The Puzzle Of Increasing Emergency Room Visits For Behavioral Health Issues

A recent story caught my eye – in Massachusetts, emergency room (ER) utilization attributed to behavioral health issues is on the rise. I was surprised because Massachusetts has one of the lower rates of uninsurance in the country (see In 2014, Uninsured Rates The Lowest In Massachusetts; Highest In Texas and Pockets In Mass. Cities Still Lack Health Insurance: Data Contrast With 100% Coverage In Suburban Tracts).

In Massachusetts, a recent data analysis found a statewide increase in ER utilization for behavioral health conditions. Even as total ER use in the state declined slightly between 2010 and 2014, the visits for . . .