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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Americans are spending an average of 162 minutes in the ER, with visits getting longer in nearly half of U.S. states, new CMS data reveals. Overcrowding, hospital funding cuts, and looming Medicaid eligibility changes could push even more patients into emergency departments. AI tools show promise in cutting wait times, but adoption remains a challenge.
The average American now spends nearly three hours in a hospital emergency department, and things aren't improving fast enough. New data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows the national median ED visit length hit 162 minutes for the year ending September 30, 2025 — with Washington, D.C. topping the charts at 303 minutes and North Dakota at the low end with 110 minutes. Visit times rose in 24 states and D.C. compared to the prior year.
The situation is compounded by a broader hospital crisis. Overcrowded EDs, Medicaid funding cuts, and upcoming insurance eligibility changes could push more patients to delay care until it becomes an emergency — flooding already strained departments. Nearly a quarter of patients needing inpatient care wait at least four hours for a hospital bed, per a recent JAMA study.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Longer ER waits aren't just inconvenient — they drive up costs, worsen patient experiences, and signal deeper systemic strain. With federal health agencies being scaled back and Medicaid cuts looming, the pressure on emergency departments is likely to intensify before it gets better.
