About eight years ago, we noted that one of RomneyCare's explicit promises was to reduce ER visits. RomneyCare being, of course, a precursor to ObamaCare, and the ER one of the most expensive pieces of the health care pie.
Of course, that's not what happened:
"... according to a report from the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, expanded coverage may have contributed to the rise in emergency room visits"
Why's that, you ask? Well, because "newly insured residents entered the health care system and could not find a primary care doctor or get a last-minute appointment with their physician."
Hunh.
But that was then, and this is now, and surely the ACA has tamped down on ER (over-)utilization, right?
Right??
Well, you may want to sit down for this:
Of course, that's not what happened:
"... according to a report from the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, expanded coverage may have contributed to the rise in emergency room visits"
Why's that, you ask? Well, because "newly insured residents entered the health care system and could not find a primary care doctor or get a last-minute appointment with their physician."
Hunh.
But that was then, and this is now, and surely the ACA has tamped down on ER (over-)utilization, right?
Right??
Well, you may want to sit down for this:
Surprise!Heard in the halls of Congress by me, February 2009:— Michael Bertaut (@MikeBertaut) April 23, 2019
"But Olympia, if we just give these people Medicaid cards then they'll stop going to the emergency room and the program will pay for itself!"
Whoops.https://t.co/BXp1LuJ1UI