Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

ER care for illegal immigrants doesn't have to be a total loss.  Hospitals and physicians tired of writing off emergency room care provided to uninsured illegal immigrants can 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 $1 billion worth of funding for 2005 through 2009 to reimburse providers for care provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. EMTALA mandates that hospitals provide a medical screening examination to all patients who arrive at their doors and stabilize their condition unless they don't have the resources to do so. Providers have long complained that the law, in essence, requires them to provide free care to uninsured patients. Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl (R), who fought for the provision while the bill was in conference, concedes that the funding won't cover all of the costs involved, but says it's a "huge step forward." Lesson Learned: Hospitals should make sure they are ready to take advantage of any EMTALA-related reimbursement that they are entitled to.