Summary of the HCCI Report on Urgent Care Spending Trends:
This report by the nonprofit HCCI reveals a meaningful shift in healthcare spending, with urgent care experiencing much faster growth than primary care or emergency room use between 2018 adn 2022. Here’s a breakdown of the key findings:
* Driven by Utilization, Not Price: Unlike primary care and emergency rooms where price increases were the main driver of spending growth, urgent care spending surged primarily due too a massive increase in the number of visits (a 34.5% increase over five years). While urgent care prices did increase (12.4%),this was comparable to other care settings.
* Significant Spending Growth: Urgent care spending per person increased by 51.1% ($18 to $27) during the study period, far outpacing the 21.1% increase in primary care and the 10.6% increase in emergency room spending.
* Pandemic Impact: The rise in urgent care use was especially notable during the pandemic, with infectious disease exposure (including COVID-19) accounting for 28% of visits in 2022, up from just 1% in 2018.
* Convenience & Cost-Effectiveness: Despite the growth, primary care remains the moast common setting for care. However, urgent care is attractive due to its convenience and lower costs compared to emergency rooms. for example, treating a UTI cost $218 at urgent care versus $167 at primary care and a staggering $2,511 at the ER. Out-of-pocket costs were also significantly lower at urgent care.
* Need for Attention: The report emphasizes that the rapid growth of urgent care deserves attention from employers, insurers, and policymakers as it plays an increasingly critical role in accessing timely care outside of traditional settings.
In essence, the report highlights a growing reliance on urgent care centers, fueled by increased demand and convenience, rather than simply rising prices.