RT Journal
A1 Kao DP, Martin MH, Das AK, Ruoss SJ
T1 Consequences of federal patient transfer regulations: Effect of the 2003 emtala revision on a tertiary referral center and evidence of possible misuse
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD June 11
VO 172
IS 11
SP 891
OP 892
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1290
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1290
AB 
Emergency department (ED) use has risen steadily over the past 20 years, in part because patients are guaranteed medical attention under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). EMTALA requires ED physicians to evaluate and stabilize all patients regardless of ability to pay, and hospitals must provide specialist care or arrange transfer to a tertiary care center when specialist care is unavailable.1- 2 Community hospitals have reported difficulty providing specialist coverage since the enactment of EMTALA, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its “Final Rule” regarding EMTALA in September 2003, stating that hospitals with EDs are not required to guarantee specialist coverage at all times.3