Emergency Medical Treatment And Labor Act (EMTALA)

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law enacted in 1986 to ensure that all individuals receive emergency medical care regardless of their financial status. Under EMTALA, hospitals with emergency departments are mandated to perform a medical screening examination on anyone who presents with an emergency condition. If an emergency medical condition is identified, the hospital must provide necessary stabilizing treatment or arrange for an appropriate transfer to another facility. EMTALA’s primary objective is to prevent hospitals from refusing or delaying emergency care based on a patient’s ability to pay, thus safeguarding public health and ensuring equitable access to critical medical services for all individuals in urgent need.