Analyze

It is said that EMTALA doesn't apply to ambulance services, technically this would be true. Yet, EMTALA does indeed effect our patients, and anything that effects our patients can effect us and should be a concern of ours as EMS providers. If EMTs are spending time in the hospital sorting out insurance issues and payment, that is more time they are out of service. Also, if the patient's treatment time is delayed, not only will the hospital be blamed, but so will EMS. If a patient is in cardiac arrest, EMTs will not be stopping and wasting time to find out insurance and payment issues from family members, that will be the last thought on their mind. They will be transporting and attempting to stabilize the patient. EMTs and EMS will not compromise the health of a patient due to insurance or payment issues, just like hospitals are now mandated to do.

In terms of first responders, not much of this policy will effect them due to the fact that issues such as insurance and medicaid are not really an issue handled by EMS. The only thing I can think of is how this might effect a patient possibly worrying about insurance and wanting to refuse EMS services due to money issues. This might also play a role in where patients are taken as well, but more likely not since no matter what their insurance, etc is, they'll be transported to the hospital of their choice or depending on their condition, cardiac arrest-->closest hospital.