Eviction as a Disruptive Factor in Health Care Utilization: Impact on Hospital Readmissions and No-show Rates

BACKGROUND: Residential eviction is a component of housing instability that negatively affects physical and mental health, but the effect of eviction on health care utilization, specifically hospital readmissions and outpatient no-show rates, is not known. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of health care utilization of individuals evicted from public housing between January 2013 and December 2017, investigating hospital readmissions and no-show rates one year before and after eviction. RESULTS: 131 individuals who had been evicted had one year of data pre-and post-eviction. The majority were African American (97.7%) and female (80.9%). There was no significant change in 30-, 60-, and 90-day hospital readmissions (p>.05). No-show rate decreased from 27.57 per person per year to 20.13 (p=.05). CONCLUSIONS: For our study population, health care utilization was not disrupted. The decreased no-show rate represents an opportunity for health systems to engage with patients on social factors affecting their health post-eviction.