Health Care Consumers With Comorbid Behavioral Health Conditions Have Longer Inpatient Stays

Health care consumers in Massachusetts with a behavioral health comorbidity stayed in the hospital an average of 1.4 days longer than consumers without one, at a total of 5.7 days for those with comorbidities versus 4.3 days for those without comorbidities. Comorbidities included mental health conditions (about 28%), co-occurring mental health and addiction (11%), and addiction (about 6%).

Nearly half of adults hospitalized in Massachusetts acute care hospitals from July 2017 through June 2018, had at least one comorbid behavioral health condition. Adults enrolled in Medicaid were more likely to have a comorbid behavioral health condition . . .