Title: 
Headings: 

Content: 19-13-D3 (j)). No state law requires hospitals to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. But federal tax law conditions hospitals'tax-exempt status on their treating all indigent emergency patients for free and not discriminating among paying patients. OLR report 2001-R-0642, (attached and at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2001/rpt/olr/htm/2001-r-0642.htm) provides more detail on these tax-exempt conditions. State law requires hospitals to post notices in their emergency rooms and other locations about the availability funds they control that are dedicated to providing patient care (“bed funds”). They must also make available a summary describing these funds and how to apply for them and train staff in application procedures (CGS §19a-509b). EMTALA (42 USC § 1395DD, et seq, 42 CFR 489.24)
Congress passed EMTALA in 1985 specifically to address the problem of hospitals “dumping” indigent patients, that is turning away uninsured or indigent people seeking treatment so as to avoid the cost of treating them. EMTALA applies to hospitals that participate in Medicare and have designated emergency departments. It has two principal requirements: a hospital must (1) appropriately screen anyone who seeks emergency care regardless of ability to pay, immigration status, or any other characteristic and (2) stabilize the person's emergency condition within its capability and capacity.