Health Care Costs of Firearm Injury Hospital Visits in the US

What is the total health care cost for initial firearm-related emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient hospitalizations in the US?In this economic evaluation study including data from 6 states, using a Monte Carlo simulation, firearm injuries led to an estimated 298 721 ED visits and 185 846 hospital admissions from 2016 through 2021. The total estimated firearm injury health care cost was $7.7 billion over the 6 years (in base year 2024 dollars); inpatient admissions accounted for 93% of the cost.Child and adult firearm injury is a substantial source of health care cost in the US and has risen over time.

Corresponding Author: Alexander Lundberg, PhD, Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics, Northwestern University, Arthur Rubloff Building 9-933, 375 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (alexander.lundberg@northwestern.edu).

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