Hospitals struggle with increasing number of "non-emergency" ER visits due to Medicaid expansion

cn|2 Pure Politics ^ | 7/30/2014 | Don Weber

[Republican Wildcat]

CYNTHIANA — The emergency rooms of Kentucky’s hospitals are facing a crisis of too many patients, but not because of an increase in illnesses, like the rest of the nation Kentucky saw an increase in non-emergency visits because more individuals have health insurance coverage.

In Kentucky, more than 330,000 people became Medicaid eligible when the state expanded the program on January 1. The expansion covers residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty rate which is $15,856.

The problem is many of the patients now going to the emergency rooms are not actually facing a medical emergency. This is causing a strain at the state’s hospitals as ER doctors are treating an increasing number of patients for non-emergency care.

Sheila Currans, CEO of Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana, says that her hospital has had to move staff from other parts of the hospital into the ER to handle the increase in the number of patients.

“Unfortunately, the ACA didn’t create a support structure around the implementation of the ACA, and so what we have now is a system of more people seeking care, but residency programs which aren’t prepared to put more doctors out,” said Currans.

The 12 percent increase in emergency room visits is pretty consistent with the state average.

[Republican Wildcat]

Again, precisely the opposite of what the Democrats claimed those opposed to Obamacare warned of...all of us "liars", per the left, of course.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Richard Cloward is smiling up from Hell.

[Jim Robinson]

Totally unexpected. /s

[Mastador1]

Took my wife to the ER because of chest pains, a precaution insisted by our insurance. After sitting for three hours waiting my Wife had enough and told me to take her home because the ER was more aggravating than anything. Anyone that says the undocumented don’t use the ER for minor medical issues is full of the stuff that comes out of obama’s mouth.

[Cubs Fan]

Obama has the inverse midas touch, everything he gets a hold of turns to &h*t.

[Nifster]

ERs in southern California have close over the years due to this very phenomenon.

[i_robot73]

Course, to make the Lib’s heads explode, just ask: Now that ‘everyone’ has healthcare (ala OCare), they would support the repeal of making hospitals take any/all patients regardless of ability to pay?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Medicaid. Hey! It’s free! Might as well use it often. It don’t cost nuthin’.

[blue state conservative]

Exactly right. The liberal crapola coming from the LA Times and the New York Times during to help pass Obamacare was that emergency rooms would be less crowded because the newly insured would now be getting preventive care and would not be going to the emergency rooms for routine care. Those of us in the common sense community called BS on that right away but of course our voices were drowned out by all the media cheerleading.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Hospitals struggle with increasing number of "non-emergency" ER visits

There's no reason for to tie up the ER, they simply need to triage, and send the "non-emergency" patients down the hall to a union thug nurse practitioner.

"Sorry, I'm going on break...you'll just have to wait."

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Reminds me of the SNL spoof of the ‘Union Awards’. “He on break.”

[cherry]

its hard to believe the ER didn’t use a triage system...chest pain should be right at the top....

[Ken H]

Who could have possibly guessed this would happen?

[cherry]

the non urgent "problems" that people bring in to the ER would be laughable if not so upsetting....diarrhea that the patient has had for 4 yrs but decides on a Friday night to come to the ER....

the "back" aches seeking hydro's or better yet, oxy's....when they tell you that they're "allergic" to all nsaids(motrin,aleve, etc_) you know they're just seeking narcs...

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Just saw this on another forum. Don’t really know what to make of it.

https://m.facebook.com/WATE6.News/photos/a.205213286178001.59558.112945508738113/828488583850465/?type=1

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I was just being a jerk about unions, but the truth is, that is a simple solution for hospitals.

[RC one]

I need some of that medicine that starts with a D for my migraine. Nothing else works. I think it’s dilawya.

[spokeshave]

"Sorry, I'm going on break...you'll just have to wait."

Like this guy in the UK

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER 08th October 2009

A plumber whose arm was left twisted grotesquely out of shape in an accident ten months ago has had an operation to correct it 'cancelled four times'.

Torron Eeles, 50, has been left unable to work since falling down the stairs and now fears he may lose his home after being denied incapacity benefit.

The father-of-three today hit out at the NHS for the 'unacceptable delays'. His left arm has hung limply by his side since he fractured the humerus bone in December 2008.

Mr Eeles, from Welham Green, Hertfordshire, applied for employment and support allowance but a doctor ruled he is ineligible for both because he can turn on a tap.

[43north]

I worked in an ER in Pocatello, ID pre-owebamacare 2006-2009. This is nothing new except there are more pathetic losers on Medicaid now.

There is nothing more disturbing than subsidizing a permanent underclass of Americans who are too stupid to take care of themselves so that they will vote demoncrat. Except maybe importing a whole new underclass of non-Americans to do the same damn thing!

[Mastador1]

Because her vitals were ok when we got there they just pushed her back, but the whole push to go to the ER was “because they can draw blood to determine if a heart attack had taken place”. When the visit is worse than the event something is wrong.