Rates of Inpatient and Emergency Room Use Before and After Discharge Among Medicaid Enrollees in OnTrackNY

Objective: This study examined hospital and emergency room (ER) use among Medicaid enrollees before and after discharge from OnTrackNY, a coordinated specialty care program for recent-onset psychosis. Methods: Medicaid claims data were linked to program data. Inpatient hospitalization, inpatient days, and ER visits were assessed in the 6 months prior to OnTrackNY enrollment and 6 months prior to and after discharge. The sample consisted of 138 participants with continuous Medicaid enrollment during the study. Results: Inpatient visits significantly declined from the pre-OnTrackNY enrollment period to the predischarge period (beta=-1.23, standard error [SE]=0.22, p<0.001), did not significantly change in the first 6 months after discharge (beta=0.19, SE=0.26, p=0.48), and remained significantly lower than before OnTrackNY enrollment (beta=-1.05, SE=0.20, p<0.001). Similar patterns were observed for inpatient days and ER use. Conclusions: ER and hospital use declined during OnTrackNY participation and did not significantly change in the first 6 months after discharge.