The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)
is an act of the United States Congress, passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). It requires hospital emergency departments that accept payments from Medicare to provide an appropriate medical screening examination (MSE) for anyone seeking treatment for a medical condition regardless of citizenship, legal status, or ability to pay. Participating hospitals may not transfer or discharge patients needing emergency treatment except with the informed consent or stabilization of the patient or when the patient’s condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment.[1]
Pretty sure this only applies to Emergency Room treatments, in other words the ER can’t turn someone away because they are undocumented. Undocumented people still don’t have access to medicare to cover regular doctor visits or preventative health care
Correct. You must be treated. The ER can push you off to another hospital if they want once you’re stable… happens frequent… “kickin’ the can down the road” as they say.
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)
is an act of the United States Congress, passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). It requires hospital emergency departments that accept payments from Medicare to provide an appropriate medical screening examination (MSE) for anyone seeking treatment for a medical condition regardless of citizenship, legal status, or ability to pay. Participating hospitals may not transfer or discharge patients needing emergency treatment except with the informed consent or stabilization of the patient or when the patient’s condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment.[1]
Pretty sure this only applies to Emergency Room treatments, in other words the ER can’t turn someone away because they are undocumented. Undocumented people still don’t have access to medicare to cover regular doctor visits or preventative health care
Correct. You must be treated. The ER can push you off to another hospital if they want once you’re stable… happens frequent… “kickin’ the can down the road” as they say.