Final answer:
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law requiring hospitals to evaluate and treat individuals in emergency situations regardless of their ability to pay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal law that mandates the evaluation of persons who arrive at a hospital emergency room is known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Enacted in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), EMTALA ensures that all individuals have access to emergency services regardless of their ability to pay. This law requires hospitals to provide a medical screening to determine if an emergency medical condition exists and, if so, to offer stabilizing treatment or an appropriate transfer to another medical facility if the hospital lacks the capability to treat the condition.
Hospitals that fail to comply with EMTALA can face significant penalties, including fines and exclusion from the Medicare program. This legislation plays a crucial role in protecting the rights of patients and ensuring that emergency health care services are accessible to everyone, particularly those in financial hardship.