Final answer:
Transporting a patient based on their ability to pay would violate EMTALA, which mandates that hospitals provide emergency treatment to anyone in need regardless of their financial status. EMTALA is part of the American health care safety net, working against patient dumping and ensuring care for the uninsured and those on Medicaid.
Step-by-step explanation:
Choosing to transport a patient to a facility based on the patient’s ability to pay would be a violation of EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. This federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency health care treatment to anyone needing it regardless of citizenship, legal status, or ability to pay. There are no reimbursement provisions in EMTALA, so hospitals bear the cost of services for individuals unable to pay.
EMTALA was enacted to ensure public access to emergency services regardless of the ability to pay. It prevents hospitals from transferring uninsured or Medicaid patients to public hospitals without providing a medical screening and stabilizing any emergency medical conditions. The Act is a crucial component in the American health care system, aimed at preventing what is known as “patient dumping”.
Health care providers must adhere to Medicare and Medicaid regulations that also encourage services to be rendered based on medical necessity rather than financial status. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act further enhances access to care by expanding Medicaid eligibility and offering health insurance subsidies.