As part of the Center for Health Information and Analysis’ (CHIA) ongoing series on health care equity in the Commonwealth, a new report from the independent state agency focuses on disparities in acute
care utilization by race and ethnicity.

Among the key findings:

• Non-Hispanic Black patients accounted for a greater share of inpatient discharges (8.2%) and emergency
  department (ED) visits (12.3%) relative to their share of the Massachusetts population (6.7%).
• Regardless of age group or sex, non-Hispanic Black patients had the highest readmission (i.e., returns to
  the inpatient setting) and revisit (i.e., returns through the ED) rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups (17.8% and 30.1%, respectively).
• Non-Hispanic Black patients had the longest average length of stay (ALOS) (5.9 days) and the highest
  proportion of ED visits associated with excess length of stay (LOS) (defined as spending more than four hours in the ED) (39.6%) compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
• Hispanic patients accounted for a lower share of inpatient visits (9.6%) and a higher share of ED visits
  (16.8%) relative to their share of the Massachusetts population (12.4%)
• Non-Hispanic Asian patients accounted for a lower share of inpatient discharges (3.1%) and ED visits
  (2.3%) relative to their share of the Massachusetts population (6.8%).
• Non-Hispanic Asian patients had the lowest readmission and revisit rates (14.5% and 21.9%,
  respectively) compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Elderly, non-Hispanic Asian patients had
  readmission rates higher than elderly, non-Hispanic White patients (17.0% vs. 16.6%).

Among the key findings relative to older adults:

• Elderly, non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Asian patients had the highest proportion of ED visits associated with excess LOS, (54.2% and 52.9%, respectively), compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
• Elderly patients had higher readmission rates, on average, compared to nonelderly adults. Non-Hispanic Black
  patients had the highest readmission rates among both age groups compared to other racial and ethnic groups, at 17.2% for non-elderly adults and 18.7% for elderly adults.
• Elderly, Hispanic patients had the second highest readmission rates, at 18.5%, while nonelderly, non-Hispanic Asian patients had the lowest readmission rates, at 11.6%.
• Elderly, non-Hispanic Asian patients had readmission rates higher than elderly, non-Hispanic White patients (17.0% vs. 16.6%, respectively).

More information is available in the report here.