[Gay State Conservative]

There are federal laws that have been on the books for years which forbid a hospital from denying “emergency” care to *anybody*,regardless of their ability to pay.And “emergency” is defined in the law so broadly that it allows deadbeats to use the ER as a 24/7/365 walk-in clinic...which many,*many* people do on a routine basis.

[steve86]

“emergency” is defined in the law so broadly that it allows deadbeats to use the ER as a 24/7/365 walk-in clinic...

That isn't true. Just the opposite is true. When the hospital provides the type of non-emergent care you describe it is discretionary. EMTALA definition:

An emergency medical condition is defined as "a condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the individual's health [or the health of an unborn child] in serious jeopardy, serious impairment to bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of bodily organs." For example, a pregnant woman with an emergency condition must be treated until delivery is complete, unless a transfer under the statute is appropriate.[9] --wiki