A new business coalition in Massachusetts is trying to lower health care costs by targeting overuse of hospital emergency rooms.
Led by the 4000-member Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the coalition will provide resources to employers to share with their workers about the importance of seeking medical care in the right places.
A study from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission found that 42 percent of all emergency department visits in 2015 were avoidable as people sought treatment in emergency rooms for common complaints such as stomach pain, skin rashes, and tooth aches.
WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill spoke with AIM Vice President Christopher Geehern.