Primary Care Follow-Up After Mental Health and Substance Use Emergency Department Visits in Medicaid

What are the rates of and characteristics associated with primary care follow-up after emergency department (ED) visits for mental health (MH) conditions, substance use disorders (SUDs), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) among Washington State Medicaid beneficiaries?In this cohort study of 859 043 Medicaid ED visit claims for 367 245 beneficiaries in Washington, fewer than 15% had condition-concordant primary care follow-up after ED visits for MH conditions, SUDs, or AUD. Rates were markedly lower among non-Hispanic Black individuals and people experiencing homelessness.These findings suggest racial and social differences in care access and coordination after ED visits, indicating a potential need for tailored care coordination and outreach in some populations.

Corresponding Author: Jonathan A. Staloff, MD, MSc, Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356390, Seattle, WA 98195 (jstaloff@uw.edu).

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