Title: EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
Headings: EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
EMTALA: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
Emergency Rooms Must Screen and Stabilize Regardless of Ability to Pay
Legal Duties of Hospitals Under the EMTALA Law
EMTALA Does Not Provide Free Care

Content: Under EMTALA, they must take any appropriate transfer. However, the law gives them an escape clause. They must accept the transfer if they have the capacity. If they don't have any open beds or they are already on ambulance diversion, they don't have to take a transfer. However, if they tell a hospital requesting a transfer that they are full but the patient gets sent to them anyway (dumping) they must treat the patient when he arrives. They can report the sending hospital for an EMTALA violation later. EMTALA Does Not Provide Free Care
While hospitals are required to examine and treat patients under EMTALA, their services are not free. They may bill the patient and sue them for unpaid bills. They do not need to provide outpatient care after discharge, but they must refer them to clinics and programs that may provide them at a reduced cost or for free. Hospitals can't refuse to treat patients presenting under EMTALA who already owe them money.