EMTALA - Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act

EMTALA, also known as the patient anti dumping statute law, mandates that if an individual approached a hospital with an emergency medical condition (EMC) or labor and requests examination or treatment for the EMC, the hospital cannot deny this person any services that are required for the EMC even if the person is not able to pay the bill or does not have any insurance coverage of any type. This law is enforced by CMS and is applicable to all medicare and medicaid approved hospitals, critical care access hospitals, and hospitals with specialized services. Failing to enforce this law will result in loss of all medicare and medicaid payments and also there can be some monetary penalties on the hospital or physician who showed negligence. The law requires that the hospital provide the individual with stabilization services and if the hospital finds that it does not have the resources and ability to treat the condition then it is the responsibility of the hospital to arrange appropriate transfer to a facility where the condition can be stabilized. The law also states that the hospital where the patient is being transferred for specialized services should accept the transfer and treat the patient appropriately. The hospitals liability under EMLATA ends when the EMC is stabilized or the hospital admits the patient due to unstable EMC.

What are the different types of healthcare providers

Here is a list of different types of providers

Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC) Center : Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ACS) are centers where minor or small procedures are carried out and patient are not required to stay more than twhenty four hours in the hospital. These are also called outpatient surgery centers or same day surgery centers.

Fee-For-Service Providers (FFS) : FFS payment model involves payment for each service offered and there is no bundling and unbundling involved. Every service whether it is part of bigger service is paid seperately.
Clinical Labs Center : Clinical lab centers provide laboratory tests

Anesthesia Center : Anesthesia centers are specialized in anesthesia.

Critical Access Hospitals Center:
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Center
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Center
Skilled Nursing Facility Center

Hospital Center
Practice Administration Center
Rural Health Clinics Center

Pharmacist Center Physician Center
Home Health Agency (HHA)

Center Hospice Center