Patient Navigation for Medicaid Frequent ED Users
Patient Navigation for Medicaid Frequent ED Users
A large proportion of frequent ED users have Medicaid insurance. The purpose of this study is
 to evaluate the effectiveness of patient navigation for reducing Emergency Department (ED)
 visits and hospitalizations and improving patient-centered outcomes (e.g., self-reported
 health status, quality of life, access/barriers to care) among Medicaid patients who are high
 utilizers of the ED, as well as to identify best practices for engaging and providing
 healthcare services to underserved patients using patient navigation. This study will address
 needs that have been identified within the New Haven community and the local healthcare
 system, contribute to knowledge and literature surrounding the use of patient navigation to
 improve care for underserved patients and improve health system efficiency, and inform the
 design and development of programs that address these needs both locally and in other
 communities.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  4-18 ED visits per year

 -  Frequent ED users

 -  age 18 to 62

 -  Medicaid insurance only

 -  Those living in the greater New Haven area (i.e. having a zip code that matches that)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  the current visit for primary psychiatric or substance abuse

 -  more than 50% of all ED visits in the past year for primary psychiatric or substance
 abuse.