Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program Patients and Infectious Diseases Treated in Emergency Departments: United States, 2003

Objective. The objective of this study was to describe infectious diseases in terms of Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) as an expected source of payment. Methods. Data for 2003 from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) were analyzed for infectious disease visits. NHAMCS is a national probability sample survey of visits to hospital EDs and outpatient departments of nonfederal, short-stay, and general hospitals in the United States. Data are collected annually and are weighted to generate national estimates. Results. Nationally in 2003, an estimated 21.6 million visits were made to hospital EDs for infectious diseases (rate = 76 visits/1,000 persons). Medicaid/SCHIP was the expected source of payment at an estimated 6.7 million infectious disease-related visits (rate = 200 visits/1,000 persons covered by Medicaid). Children aged <15 years made 39% of visits nationwide (nationwide rate = 139 visits/1,000 persons). Of Medicaid visits, 63% were made by children < 15 years of age (Medicaid enrollees rate =255 visits/1,000 persons]). The rate of visits for Medicaid enrollees was comparable for females and males (198 visits versus 201/1,000 persons). The rate of visits for black Medicaid enrollees was 33% higher than that of whites (255 versus 192 visits/1,000 persons). Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is the most frequent infectious condition recorded at ED visits. Conclusion. Because approximately half of visits relate to URTIs for Medicaid payment group, URTIs should form the basis for development of appropriate control strategies.