Center for Population Health

The following information represents the percentage of Emergency Department (ED) visits for beneficiaries with a principle diagnosis of mental illness or intentional self-harm and who received a follow-up visit for mental illness.  The follow-up visit occurred within 7 days and 30 days of the ED visit.  The results are based on individuals ages 13 to 65 and older who had Medicare or private health insurance coverage.

In 2015, the year prior to the CT SIM implementation, greater percentages of females than males had a follow-up visit for mental illness after visiting an ED with a principal diagnosis of  mental illness or intentional self-harm. Individuals with private insurance coverage were more likely to receive a follow-up visit than those with Medicare coverage. Specifically, 54.5% of females with private insurance had a follow-up visit within 7 days and 69.3% had a follow-up visit within 30 days. Whereas, 43.7% of females with Medicare coverage had a follow up visit within 7 days and 54.7% had a follow-up within 30 days.  On the other hand, 45.4% of males with private insurance coverage had a follow-up visit within 7 days and 60.6% had a follow-up visit within 30 days. Lower percentages of males with Medicare coverage had a follow-up visit: 37.1% within 7 days and 47.5% within 30 days.

Since the implementation of CT SIM in 2016, the pattern of females being more likely to have a follow-up visit than males continued.  In 2017, the most recent year data are available, greater percentages of all patients received a follow-up mental health visit.  62.2% of females with private insurance had a follow-up visit within 7 days and 74.9% had a follow-up visit within 30 days. Whereas, 51.4% of males with private insurance had a follow-up visit within 7 days and 65.8% had a follow-up within 30 days.  As for individuals with Medicare coverage, 55.1% of females had a follow-up visit within 7 days and 66.4% had a follow-up visit within 30 days. Lower percentages of males with Medicare coverage had a follow-up visit: 49.9% within 7 days and 61.7% within 30 days.