Non-life threatening ER visits to be reduced under new state health program
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The Louisiana Department of Health is partnering with Acadian Health to provide more in-home services for non-life threatening medical conditions for patients 13 and older.
It’s the state’s hope that the Medicaid emergency room utilization reduction pilot program will cut down on ambulance calls and ER visits.
“We also want to make sure that we can tie them back to their provider, so that they can actually start seeing their provider and really get after that continuative care so that they have a better experience. Then we can help treat those needs to potentially keep them out of the emergency department with a low acuity type medical condition,” said project manager Cindy Haygood.
Recent data from the Department of Health showed 20 percent of the state’s Medicaid patients visit the ER 17 times a year for non-life threatening issues.
“It will help us to understand what is driving those Medicaid members into the emergency department because it could be a social driver, like transportation, and if that’s the case, then we want to work with our community workers, and we want to try and figure out what are those specific resources that we need to partner together and help our Medicaid members,” said Haygood.
Acadian Health is breaking down the program into two services.
Acute care at home is for patients who require services within an hour. It’s an alternative to the ER for sick but stable patients.
Clinic at-home is a visit scheduled in advance that allows physicians to extend their practices into patient’s homes.
“Acadian Health is honored to partner with the Louisiana Department of Health, its managed care organizations and their providers to deliver mobile integrated healthcare services to the patients who need it most,” wrote Acadian Health Director of Business Development Rob Burnell
The pilot program will continue for six months, allowing the agencies to review results and address any improvements that need to be made.
Copyright 2025 KPLC. All rights reserved.
