Connecticut Medicaid Child Behavioral Health Emergency Room Visits Up 20%

Behavioral health-related crisis visits to Connecticut emergency rooms by Medicaid-covered children has increased about 20% from 2014 to 2016. In 2014, approximately 12,100 of these visits were recorded; compared to 14,448 in 2016.

Youth who made an emergency department visit for behavioral health reasons were more likely to be aged 13 to 17, male, White, and already involved in the state Department of Children and Families. About 10.4% of the youths made a second emergency room visit within seven days and 25.6% within 30 days. About 35% of youth who made an emergency department . . .