Cost pressures on hospitals According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 55% of U.S. emergency care now goes uncompensated. When medical bills go unpaid, health care providers must either shift the costs onto those who can pay or go uncompensated. In the first decade of EMTALA, such cost shifting amounted to a hidden tax levied by providers.(Peter Harbage and Len M. Nichols, Ph.D., "A Premium Price: The Hidden Costs All Californians Pay In Our Fragmented Health Care System," New America Foundation, 12/2006) For example, it has been estimated that cost shifting has amounted to $455 per individual, or $1,186 per family, in California annually.
cost pressures on hospitals according to the centers for medicare & medicaid services 55% of us emergency care now goes uncompensated when medical bills go unpaid health care providers must either shift the costs onto those who can pay or go uncompensated in the first decade of emtala such cost shifting amounted to a hidden tax levied by providers(peter harbage and len m nichols phd "a premium price the hidden costs all californians pay in our fragmented health care system" new america foundation 12/2006) for example it has been estimated that cost shifting has amounted to $455 per individual or $1186 per family in california annually