Analysis of CO APCD Shows Frequency of Mental Health-Related ED Visits

A new analysis from the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD) shows that over 17,000 Coloradans visiting an Emergency Department (ED) from 2016-2018 had a primary diagnosis related to mental health. One out of every four ED visits with a mental health diagnosis was for children under the age of 18.

The analysis was conducted by the Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) using claims data for commercially insured, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage patients. Claims for ED visits that resulted in a mental health primary diagnosis were identified by evaluating over 200 ICD 10 codes, not including substance abuse-related diagnoses.

Read more:

• Emergency Department Use for Mental Health Reasons. Colorado All Payer Claims Database Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, 2016-2018. CIVHC. Dec 2019