Health Care Utilization of Individuals Affected by Homelessness: Illinois, 2011-2018

To describe individuals coded as homeless in state-level data comprising of outpatient and inpatient cases over a multi-year period to provide public health surveillance data on the health care utilization and needs of this population.

In this cross-sectional study, outpatient and inpatient visits coded for homelessness were identified from the Illinois Hospital Discharge Database from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2018. Demographic characteristics, primary diagnosis and comorbid conditions, and hospital course of treatment were described. Predictors of discharge to a health care facility versus routine discharge to home or self-care were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.

There were 154,173 patient visits predominantly involving males, those aged 25-64 years, and non-Hispanic Whites and African Americans. The majority had comorbidities of depression, psychosis, and/or substance abuse (70.2%) and a routine discharge to home or self-care (81.9%). Discharge to home or self-care relative to another health care institution was associated with having charity coverage and being Black/African American.

Those experiencing homelessness experience a high burden of health concerns. Hospital billing records can be used to prioritize the distribution of limited public health resources for health care programs and interventions among those experiencing homelessness.