The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Jan. 22 announced an initiative to help hospitals meet their obligations under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).
EMTALA requires emergency departments to screen, stabilize, and transfer or accept all individuals who need emergency care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. HHS and CMS plan to:
- Partner with hospital and provider associations to disseminate training materials on providers’ obligations under EMTALA.
- Convene hospital and provider associations to discuss best practices and challenges in ensuring EMTALA compliance.
- Establish a dedicated team of HHS experts who will increase the department’s capacity to support hospitals in complying with federal requirements under EMTALA.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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