AHRQ: emergency departments treat poor children most often
Lower-income children make nearly twice as many emergency department visits as higher-income children, according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Low-income children make nearly twice as many emergency department visits as high-income children, according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
The analysis compared data on more than 12 million emergency department visits by children under age 18. Children were from average household incomes of either $36,999 or more than $61,000. For every 1,000 children in the low-income group, there 414 emergency visits, compared with 223 visits for every 1,000 children in the high-income group.
Additional findings included that, among all emergency visits, 96% resulted in children being treated and released. Furthermore, 45% of all visits were covered by Medicaid, 43% were covered by private insurance, and 9% had no insurance.
Study: Child heat-related illness ED visits up 170% in past decade
September 28th 2024“The significant rise in heat-related illnesses over the past decade underscores a growing public health concern that warrants further attention and action, said Taylor Merritt, MD, of the data presented at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition.
