An EMTALA update for Indian Country.
Description:
The U.S. Federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is one of the most difficult laws to interpret and the easiest to violate. This federal law was enacted to ensure that all individuals presenting to an emergency department of any Medicare- or Medicaid-participating facility for evaluation and treatment of a medical condition will be seen, evaluated, treated, and stabilized, regardless of ability to pay. This article provides a basic overview of EMTALA as it applies to Indian Country.