Uninsured Needing Care Face Hospital Dumping

National Quotes' recent research shows that some hospitals are still practicing "patient dumping," turning away patients who need emergency medical care but have no health insurance coverage.

Scottsdale, AZ (prHWY.com) December 18, 2012 - National Quotes' recent research shows that some hospitals are still practicing "patient dumping," turning away patients who need emergency medical care but have no health insurance coverage. A group of researchers and a professor from George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services conducted a study that suggested illegal "patient dumping," which was banned 25 years ago, was taking place at hospitals across the nation.

During the study, the researchers discovered 5 patients who were either denied care or were transferred while in unstable condition to Denver Health because they did not have health insurance coverage.

One woman experience great difficulty breathing and swallowing due to an abscess protruding at the base of her tongue. She was admitted to Denver Health, which is a safety-net hospital; and the hospital contacted the on call specialist. The specialist refused care because the woman was uninsured.

Denver Health cared for the uninsured woman with no compensation, totaling to an estimated $16,000, and reported the specialist to the proper authorities, claiming a violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.

On a separate occasion, an uninsured, 64 year old woman experiencing a life threatening condition was transferred over 350 miles to Denver Health, even though the local hospital had the ability to treat the woman's health condition.

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act require hospitals by law to provide care to patients who are experiencing life-threatening conditions but have no health insurance coverage. Sara Rosenbaum, lead author of the Harold, reported, "Federal and state investigators must do a better job of identifying violators of the law and enforcing the ban on patient dumping."

NationalQuotes has learned that the researchers discovered that blatant violators of the law were not being identified or penalized by the proper authorities. Rosenbaum stated, "Obviously, there's a need for much more enforcement, and for the federal government to come up with a way of monitoring the EMTALA activities of the hospitals to get a better estimate of how many people come to seek care and leave without a screening."

At this point there is very little knowledge on how widespread "patient dumping" truly is, and safety-net hospitals will not report "patient dumping" because they don't wish to create problems with neighboring hospitals.NationalQuotes.com provides affordable health insurance quotes to ensure emergency coverage no matter where care is given.

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Tag Words: health insurance coverage, health insurance quotes

Categories: Insurance

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Jonatan Colt
NationalQuotes.com
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