Those that cannot pay for healthcare services (or are suspected to not be able to) are the most vulnerable population as they can literally die because of their social standing getting in the way of care and treatment.
It was well received in large when it was signed into law by President Ronald Regan in 1986. The need, benefits, and issues brought about that. The only negative was the potential to cheap the system and steal from hospitals by those who are able to pay but don’t. This issue is not really a major issue because patients still get billed and there are still repercussions for not paying bills but if the need for urgent care is real it could save your life; however about 6% of hospital services are never paid for, thus not completely an unreal threat.
This act was a win for all individuals in EMS as no EMT, nurse, or doctor would have to send a patient in critical need away because there was no one to foot the bill. This was a horrible position that put medical workers in the position of moral culpability for policy formed by higher-ups who never had to deal with the reality of their decisions.
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act ensures public access to emergency medical treatment regardless of the patient's ability or inability to pay for the services. This policy aims to provide immediate medical assisstance to those in need.
This policy was drafted by Congress as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act and passed in 1986 to address Medicare related issues.
This policy applies to anyone residing in the United States who require medical screening examinations as outlined in the act or treatment for an emergency medical condition.
This policy was part of the Consolitated Omnibus Reconciliation Act. Prior to this legislation, specifically Medicare and uninsured patients were being refused lifesaving procedures because of their inabiliy to pay for the services. Patient dumpin became an issue, in which a patient is transferred from a private to a public hospital, and essentially over working public hospitals for minimum wages.
In regards to pulic health, this policy provides equality in emergency/ life saving procedures despite economic barriers the patient may face.
This policy supports lower class people, the disabled, and elderly populations as well as the rest of the public in that lifesaving procedures must be provided despite the patients ability to pay.
For first responders and technical professionals, this policy requires them to provide the emergency care needed to the patient despite the patients ability to pay. This policy puts to the value of someone's life higher than someone's economic status.