Utah program reduces non-urgent Medicaid ER visits by 55%

Safe To Wait, a Utah Medicaid educational program, reduced non-urgent visits to emergency room visits by 55%. Medicaid savings for some patients were as high as $156/month. In the Safe to Wait program, members were provided with information on which conditions were true emergencies and which could wait. After the first non-urgent ER visit, members received a letter outlining the costs of emergency room care and urging them to find a primary care provider. After the second visit, they received another letter listing local urgent care clinics. After the third trip, members were required to see a family physician to get prescription refills.
Ellen Andrews