Submitted by Glenn Melnick, University of Southern California

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted utilization of healthcare services in the U.S. Previous studies of the early months of the pandemic reported substantial reductions in hospital inpatient admissions and outpatient visits, including ED visits, compared to pre-COVID levels. More recent studies, using updated data, have reported that trends began to normalize, with hospital utilization seen approaching pre-COVID levels.

Data and Methods: This paper incorporates up-to-date data to provide a complete picture of hospital utilization for the entire year of 2020 and the early months of 2021. Study data cover a large sample of hospitals (1000+ across 8 states) reporting their hospital inpatient admissions and ED visits covering the period from January 1, 2020, through March 15, 2021.

Figure 1

Inpatient Admission Volumes

Figure 2

ED Visit Volumes

Figure 3

Inpatient Admission Volumes by State

Figure 4

ED Visit Volumes by State

Findings and Implications: Total inpatient admissions and hospital ED visits for 2020 were both below pre-COVID levels for the year 2020 and remain substantially below pre-COVID levels at the start of 2021. These findings have important implications for health policy makers, hospital planners and managers, and health plans and their enrollees.

Author Information

Glenn Melnick, PhD, is Blue Cross of California Chair in Healthcare Finance and Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Center for Health Financing, Policy and Management at the Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California.

Susan Maerki, MHSA, MAE, is former director and health policy specialist at PwC and Research Associate at the Center for Health Financing, Policy, and Management.

Nikitha Kolapalli, Pharm D, MS is in Healthcare Decision Analysis at the University of Southern California and Research Associate at the Center for Health Financing, Policy, and Management.

Ayijiuli Abudukadeer, MS is in Healthcare Decision Analysis at the University of Southern California and Research Associate at the Center for Health Financing, Policy, and Management

Ben A. Zaniello, MD, MPH, is the Chief Medical Officer at Collective Medical.