Which act was adopted to ensure that proper assessments and screening are conducted when a patient arrives for emergency medical care, regardless of ability to pay?
a) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
b) Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
c) Affordable Care Act (ACA)
d) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Respuesta :

Answer:

b) Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)

Explanation:

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), is also known as the "Patient Anti-Dumping Law," was adopted to ensure that proper assessments and screening are conducted when a patient arrives for emergency medical care, regardless of their ability to pay. EMTALA requires hospitals that participate in Medicare (virtually all hospitals in the United States) to provide a medical screening examination to any individual who comes to the emergency department seeking treatment, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Final answer:

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), enacted in 1986, mandates that hospitals provide emergency care to anyone regardless of their ability to pay, addressing the important aspect of healthcare accessibility in emergency situations (option b).

Explanation:

The act adopted to ensure that proper assessments and screenings are conducted when a patient arrives for emergency medical care, regardless of the ability to pay, is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Passed into law in 1986, EMTALA requires hospitals that accept Medicare to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status, or ability to pay.

This mandate applies to virtually all hospitals in the U.S., making it a crucial component of America's health care safety net. While other acts like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also play significant roles in healthcare regulation, EMTALA is specifically targeted at emergency medical scenarios.