Suggested talking points for the 2010 election cycle:

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA 1986) is a federal law that requires anyone coming to an emergency department to be stabilized and treated, regardless of their ability to pay.

• It is an unfunded mandate on Emergency Physicians and the burden on this specialty grows yearly.
• Since 2003 each emergency physician provided, on average, $138,300 of uncompensated EMTALA-related charity care annually.
• Emergency physicians provide the majority of uncompensated care at hospitals in this country, more than any other specialty.
• To help protect emergency physicians and providers, the Federal Tort Claims Act should be extended to protect physicians providing EMTALA-related services.

Fair Payment Advocacy

http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=45981

EMTALA Advocacy:

http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=25936

AF Gardner MD, President, ACEP letter:

http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=49183

Chart:

http://www.acep.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=49182&libID=49211