EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act)

EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act) is a law that requires hospitals to provide emergency medical care to anyone needing it, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. If you go to an emergency room with a medical or labor emergency, the hospital must evaluate and stabilize you before deciding whether you can be transferred or discharged. This law ensures that no one is turned away or delayed emergency treatment due to financial reasons, promoting access and fairness in urgent healthcare situations.