Final answer:
Hospitals are required by EMTALA to conduct medical screening examinations, provide necessary stabilizing treatment, and safely transfer patients with emergency medical conditions when necessary, in alignment with reducing health costs and expanding coverage objectives of the ACA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main obligations of hospitals under the provisions of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) include:
- Providing a medical screening examination (MSE) to anyone seeking treatment for a medical condition to determine if an emergency medical condition exists.
- Offering necessary stabilizing treatment for patients with emergency medical conditions regardless of the patient's ability to pay or lack of insurance before transferring or discharging the patient.
- Transferring patients with emergency medical conditions that require the expertise or facilities not available at the present hospital to another facility, provided that the transfer is safe and appropriate, and the receiving facility has agreed to accept the transfer.
These obligations ensure that patients receive critical care during emergencies and are central to reducing moral hazard, providing access to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and adhere to the aims of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) to lower healthcare costs and increase healthcare coverage.