What can an Emergency Department do with a client who continues to present to the ED with non-emergent symptoms? If we determine he or she has Medicaid can we arrange for private payment?
A. EMTALA prohibits a delay in providing the required screening or stabilization treatment in order to inquire about payment methods or insurance status. You are ok to ask what insurance the client has and to ask to make a copy of the card as long as in doing so, you do not delay giving the screening/stabilization. You might follow a script, that states to the clients that seeing them for the medical screening examination and stabilization treatment (if an emergency does indeed exist) does not in any way imply that you have accepted their method of payment (whether it be private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare). Payment will be discussed after completion of the medical screening exam and at that time it could be decided that you will be required to pay privately.
