EMS dispatches for asthma greatly reduced after expanded access to health insurance

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/mgh-edf111020.php

 

News Release 11-Nov-2020
Massachusetts General Hospital

 

The expansion of health insurance in New York City under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) resulted in a significant reduction in the dispatch of ambulances for asthma emergencies, a study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has found. In a paper published in JAMA Network Open, researchers suggested that the likely reason for this decline is improved access to outpatient management of the chronic condition. The finding has major implications for the broader public health system as it seeks to control costs and better utilize fixed resources like emergency medical services (EMS).

"Our research suggests that giving access to affordable health insurance to people with asthma can rapidly reduce the frequency and severity of asthma exacerbations and lead to significantly fewer 911 calls," says Gregory Peters, MD, an investigator in the Department of Emergency Medicine at MGH and lead author of the study.


•••••