Health researchers have found that the actual cost of emergency ward care for people with non-urgent problems is similar to the cost of a visit to a private physician. While the average charge for such care is $124, the actual cost of providing care is $62.
The findings, by researchers at the University of Minnesota, challenge a longstanding argument that emergency wards cost too much and should only be used for real medical emergencies.HMO physicians, however, note that the cost to insurers is still too high, in large part because hospitals use emergency ward charges to offset unpaid bills and other revenue losses. Furthermore, they say, limiting emergency room visits is more than a matter of cost. "We believe better quality of care is provided in settings where the patient is well known," said Dr. Joanne Wilkinson of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care in Massachusetts.
- Alison Bass