Financial, Housing & Food Insecurity Each Raise The Risk of Emergency Department Visits

Adults with health-related social risks such as financial strain, housing instability, and food insecurity were more likely to make an emergency department visit than those who did not have social risks, according to researchers who analyzed survey data from nearly 9,800 Kaiser Permanente members in eight markets (Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Mid-Atlantic states, Northern California, Northwest, Southern California, and Washington). From January 2020 to July 2023, about 25.4% of Kaiser members had an emergency department visit, and 10.3% were hospitalized. The researchers calculated that those who reported one or more health-related social risks were 21 . . .