Title: Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act "EMTALA" - FindLaw
Headings: Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act "EMTALA"
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act "EMTALA"
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Passed as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 "COBRA"
Purpose:

Content: All hospitals participating in the Medicare Program (virtually all hospitals)
All patients, whether or not they are eligible for Medicare benefits
THE RULE: Any individual who comes to a hospital requesting an examination or treatment for a medical condition must receive an appropriate medical screening examination within the capability of the hospital's Emergency Department. "Any Individual . . ." Means anyone
Regardless of Medicare status
Regardless of insurance coverage (including managed care)
Regardless of ability to pay
". . . who comes to the hospital . . ." Physically present to the Emergency Department
Physically present in another hospital department or unit
Physically present on hospital campus
Attended to by crew of hospital owned ambulance, even if not on the hospital campus
". . . must receive an appropriate medical screening examination . . ." The medical screening examination must be reasonably calculated to identify any emergency medical conditions suggested by the presenting signs and symptoms. An examination within the capabilities of the Emergency Department
Includes ancillary services routinely available in the Emergency Department
Includes diagnostic capabilities reasonably available
Includes on-call services reasonably available in the Emergency Department
Triage and "complaint-based" examinations are not sufficient
If the medical screening examination identifies an emergency medical condition, the hospital must: provide such further treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical condition within the ability of the staff and facilities available to the hospital;