Characterizing behavioral health-related emergency department utilization among children with Medicaid: Comparing high and low frequency utilizers

While the frequency of children's behavioral health (BH)-related visits to the emergency department (ED) is rising nationwide, few studies have examined predictors of high rates of ED use. This study examines Florida Medicaid claims (2011-2012) for children age 0-18 who were seen in an emergency department (ED) for behavioral health (BH) conditions. A logistic regression model was used to explore factors associated with frequent ED use and patterns of psychotropic medication utilization. The majority (95%) of patients with at least one BH-related ED visit had three or fewer of these visits, but 5% had four or more. Seventy-four percent of ED visits were not associated with psychotropic medication, including over half (54%) of visits for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Frequent ED use was higher among older children and those with substance use disorders. The implementation of interventions that reduce non-emergent ED visits through the provision of care coordination, social work services, and/or the use of community health workers as care navigators may address these findings.