Geographic Disparities in Preventable Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits in Los Angeles County
Summary: This policy brief examines geographic disparities in rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits among adults ages 18 and older by Service Planning Areas (SPA) in Los Angeles County from 2016 to 2021. Authors look at three combinations of conditions that are typically preventable, given appropriate disease management: all conditions, chronic conditions, and diabetes-related conditions.
Findings: South Los Angeles (SPA 6) and the Antelope Valley (SPA 1) have the highest rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations and emergency department visits among Los Angeles’ 8 SPAs. South Los Angeles has a rate of preventable hospitalizations for all conditions that is 1.7 times that of West Los Angeles (SPA 5), which has the lowest rate. Also, SPA 6 has the highest proportion covered by Medi-Cal (35.2%), followed by SPA 1 (27.9%), while SPA 5 has the lowest percentage insured with Medi-Cal (10.7%). Authors recommend that state and local policymakers and payers should consider improving access to primary and specialty care and increasing payments for Medi-Cal providers to help prevent costly ED visits and hospitalizations.
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