Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)

It could be true that for some, either undocumented or documented, this is the only or one of the only ways to receive treatment for various health-related conditions. However, I think health reform is a small part in the bigger context of U.S. immigration policy, which lacks a basis to implement specific health policies like individual mandates or tax penalties. Until the political environment becomes acquiescent to solving immigrant issues, the scope of health care reform for undocumented immigrants will remain partial.

One of the negative unintended consequences of Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) requirement is an uncompensated increase of the healthcare costs. Perhaps the most convincing dispute to political frontrunners can be made on the basis of economic efficiency. Taxpayers already pay for the care of undocumented immigrants. Immigrants lacking coverage use the emergency room (ER) for treatment, since the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1985 assures emergency medical treatment for anyone, regardless of legal status or ability to pay. ER services is especially costly in acute care services of emergency rooms, which are among the most expensive ways to pay for health care. In today’s system, chronic care for undocumented immigrants can interpret into emergency room visits for dialysis or diuretics, and treatments that are enthusiastically obtainable in outpatient clinics at segment of the costs.

Reference:

Albright, E. (November 7, 2012). Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Inside Patient Finance. Retrieved February 21, 2013 from http://www.insidepatientfinance.com/category/emtala/