Potentially Avoidable Emergency Department Use: When Policy Expects Patients to be Physicians

Identifying and preventing avoidable use of the emergency department (ED) may provide substantial cost savings. One study suggested approximately one fifth of US ED visit episode costs could be avoidable, with an annual estimated expense of greater than $60 billion.1 Considering the cost associated with ED use, payers have embarked on policies with the goal of reducing what is perceived as inappropriate ED visits. These strategies have put patients at greater financial risk and have faced scrutiny from the medical community.

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