Breathe a Sigh of Relief With EMTALA Mandate

Emergency care for illegal immigrants doesn't have to be a total loss
If you're sick of writing off emergency-room care provided to uninsured illegal immigrants, take some comfort in a little-noticed provision in the Medicare reform legislation.
           
The bill, signed into law Dec. 10, includes a provision that would establish a $1 billion fund for 2005 through 2009 to reimburse providers for care provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).
           
EMTALA mandates that your facility provide a medical screening examination to all patients who arrive at your  doors and stabilize their condition - unless you don't have the resources to do so. Providers have long complained that the law, in essence, requires them to provide free care to patients who do not have insurance.

- Published on 2004-01-02