United States Freestanding Emergency Department Market Size

United States Freestanding Emergency Department Market Analysis

The United States Freestanding Emergency Department Market size is estimated at USD 12.09 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 15.20 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.68% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Health care institutions and government organizations all throughout the world largely depended on emergency freestanding department systems to respond to COVID-19. In April 2020, in order to handle any rise in patients on Medicare and Medicaid, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released crucial guidance authorizing licensed, independent freestanding emergency departments (IFEDs) in Colorado, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Texas to temporarily provide care. Additionally, in December 2021, the COVID-19 public health emergency: terminated the streamlined process for ambulatory surgical centers and independent freestanding emergency departments to temporarily enroll as hospitals. To address the pandemic needs, the United States government decided to enroll the existing emergency department in the COVID-19 emergency department. As a result, the freestanding emergency department market in the United States suffered during COVID-19.

Certain factors that have been driving the market growth include a growing number of consumer-driven health plans and federal funding and the rising preference for convenience care. For instance, in June 2022, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced approval of Colorado's Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver amendment request. in 2023 ,approximately 10,000 Americans will have access to more affordable coverage due to the implementation of the "Colorado Option," a state-specific health coverage scheme that will improve health coverage enrollment, reduce health care expenditures, and cut health care prices. Thus, growing consumer driven plan in United States, drive the growth of the market studied.

According to the study titled "What is a Freestanding Emergency Department? Definitions Differ Across Major United States Data Sources" published in the West Journal of emergency Medicine in May 2021, the number of freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) has been growing rapidly in the United States. Proponents of FSEDs cite potential benefits of FSEDs, including lower waiting time and reduced travel distance for needed emergency care. Thus, growing number of freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period.

However, previous studies on emergency care access and expenditure indicate that the higher access may lead to higher utilization of health care services, which may lead to an increase in overall health care costs.