Even patients with employer-sponsored health insurance are apparently misusing the emergency room, as only 29 percent of these patients actually required immediate attention, according to a new study from Truven Health Analytics.
The study also found that immediate attention was not needed for 24 percent of respondents while 41 percent of respondents received care that would have been appropriate by a primary care physician. Another 6 percent of respondents could have avoided the trip altogether proper primary care.
If the health care system could avoid 10 percent of these unneeded visits, it would lead to a net savings of $18.68 in total allowed costs per health plan member each year, the study finds. This could total to a possible savings of $461 million annually.
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