Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 595-606

Emergency department services use among immigrant and non-immigrant groups in the United States (Article)

Tarraf W.* , Vega W. , González H.M.
  • a Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Knapp Bldg, 87 East Ferry Street, Detroit MI 48202, United States
  • b Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • c Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Knapp Bldg, 87 East Ferry Street, Detroit MI 48202, United States, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, United States, Program for Research on Black Americans, Institute of Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Abstract

Immigrants have disproportionate lack of access to healthcare and insurance. Emergency departments could serve as a healthcare substitute and increased demand can negatively affect the US emergency services system. Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (2000-2008) data was modeled to compare emergency departments (ED) use between non-citizens, foreign-born (naturalized), and US-born citizens. Group differences were assessed using non-linear decomposition techniques. Non-citizens were less likely to use ED services (8.7 %) compared to naturalized immigrants (10.6 %) and US-born Americans (14.7 %). Differences in ED use persisted after adjusting for the Behavioral Model covariates. Healthcare need and insurance partially explained the differences in ED use between the groups. Between 2000 and 2008 non-citizen immigrants used markedly less ED services compared to US citizens, regardless of their nation of origin. We also found that demographic and healthcare need profiles contributed to the divergence in use patterns between groups. A less restrictive healthcare policy environment can potentially contribute to lower population disease burden and greater efficiencies in the US health care system. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Healthcare services use Immigrant healthcare use Emergency department use healthcare policy

Index Keywords

health care policy human middle aged population group statistics and numerical data Population Groups health service Aged Health Services Needs and Demand United States Humans migrant Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female adult utilization patient attitude hospital emergency service Emergency Service, Hospital Patient Acceptance of Health Care Health Policy Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904395601&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9802-z&partnerID=40&md5=d2630b2d9ee2e28603cfcda4337734d4
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9802-z
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English