Since the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, demand for emergency services for nonemergency care has increased, according to research from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Researchers reviewed the HHS' 2013 National Health Interview Survey, using more than 7,000 responses from patients who reported at least one emergency department visit in the 12 months preceding the survey.
Review of the surveys found patients who had become insured under the PPACA visited the ED more frequently than when they had been uninsured, though they did not have more health emergencies.
Of patients who had no "usual" source of care, 27.7 percent said lack of accessible care forced them to use the ED. The same was true for 35.1 percent of patients who reported relying on the ED for care. None in these groups reported their health issue was a true emergency.
Researchers concluded access to care would have a more beneficial effect on ED utilization than access to health insurance, according to a release.