Must Emergency Rooms treat uninsured destitute patients?
If so, how long?
Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)

Introduction
Care required in an emergency

In an emergency Hospitals are  required to provide stabilizing treatment for patients with Emergency Medical Conditions EMCs without discrimination.  If a hospital is unable to stabilize a patient within its capability, or if the patient requests, an appropriate transfer should be implemented.  ^Wikipedia *   ^CMS.gov

The  public must have access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay.  Under Federal Law there are  specific obligations on Medicare-participating hospitals that offer emergency services to provide:

a medical screening examination (MSE) when a request is made for examination or treatment for an emergency medical condition (EMC), including active labor, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.   ^{SSA.Gov * CMS.gov * House.Gov *} 

Definitions

emergency department as “a specially equipped and staffed area of the hospital used a significant portion of the time for initial evaluation and treatment of outpatients for emergency medical conditions .”^[9] This means, for example, that outpatient clinics not equipped to handle medical emergencies are not obligated under EMTALA and can simply refer patients to a nearby emergency department for care.^[9]

An emergency medical #condition (EMC) is defined as “a condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the individual’s health [or the health of an unborn child] in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of bodily organs.” For example, a pregnant woman with an emergency condition must be treated until delivery is complete unless a transfer under the statute is appropriate.^[9]

Patients treated under EMTALA may not be able to pay or have insurance –

get a complementary quote

or other programs like Medi-Cal pay for the associated costs but are legally responsible for any costs incurred as a result of their care under civil law.

A patient is defined as “stable,” therefore ending a hospital’s EMTALA obligations, if:

• The patient is conscious, alert, and oriented.
• The cause of all symptoms reported by the patient or representative, and all potentially life-threatening, limb-threatening, or organ-threatening symptoms discovered by hospital staff, has been ascertained to the best of the hospital’s ability.
• Any conditions that are immediately life-threatening, limb-threatening, or organ-threatening have been treated to the best of the hospital’s ability to ensure the patient does not need further inpatient care.
• The patient is able to care for himself or herself, with or without special equipment, which if needed, must be provided. The required abilities are:
  • Breathing
  • Feeding
  • Mobility
  • Dressing
  • Personal hygiene
  • Toileting
  • Medicating
  • Communication
  • Another competent person is available and able to meet the patient’s needs following discharge.   ^Wikipedia

The “prudent layperson” definition of an emergency medical condition is any medical or behavioral condition of recent onset and severity, not limited to severe pain, that would lead a typical person possessing an average knowledge of medicine and health to believe that his or her condition, sickness, or injury is of such a nature that failure to obtain immediate medical care could jeopardize life, limb, or mental health. The presenting sign or symptom is paramount, not the final diagnosis, when determining whether to pay emergency medical claims.  ^{RAC Monitor Hospitals must screen patients who come to the ER} *

Problems with this definition and how expenses health care inflation have increased  CMS.gov 100 – 07 Emergency Cases   *  acepnow.com/prudent-layperson-standard-emergency-medicine-attack/  *

Links & Resources

• Medi-Cal Eligibility – Coverage  can be backdated 3 months!
  • Estate Recovery?
• Wikipedia Emergency Medical Treatment Act
• Medical Repatriation – Deportation
• Attorney Website  Injury Claim Coach

 Call 988 for Mental Health Emergencies

Mid July 2022 there is supposed to be a new # to call, just like 911 for Mental Health Emergencies, but the funding doesn't see to be there for California.

• Millions have used the 988 mental health crisis line, but most say they wouldn’t turn to it again  CNN
• allotsego.com/mental-health-emergency-number-coming-in-july
• Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act
• usnews.com/988-mental-health
• nbc new york.com/new-national-suicide-hotline--lacks-funding