Was Mr Duncan not admitted on his first visit to the ER because he had no insurance?

[TheDebbieDee]

Has this been discussed?

[FarPoint]

1. Well, flu symptoms don't generally call for a hospitalization.

Depends on the preliminary labs findings...I image he was hydrated during his ER care and then discharged with a follow up plan.

[on point]

2. Another reason for single payer universal care. Never a threat to community health

[Texasgal]

3. No.

Public and private hospitals alike are prohibited by law from denying a patient care in an emergency. The Emergency Medical and Treatment Labor Act (EMTLA) passed by Congress in 1986 explicitly forbids the denial of care to indigent or uninsured patients based on a lack of ability to pay. It also prohibits unnecessary transfers while care is being administered and prohibits the suspension of care once it is initiated, provisions that prevent dumping patients who cannot pay on other hospitals. The treatment of indigent and uninsured patients is a huge financial drain upon the health system, especially in areas where no public hospitals are available.

http://law.freeadvice.com/malpractice_law/hospital_malpractice/hospital-patients.htm

[easttexaslefty]

4. Yes, that's the law.

But they do it anyway. Routinely.

[Texasgal]

8. As a formerTriage nurse

I have never seen this happen. Sorry. I don't know what city you are in but I have NEVER seen this happen.

I was around when we ( Austin, Tx. ) took in a huge amount of Katrina victims. Not one patient was turned down for care and we actually had to open a parking lot to take care of the influx of victims whom were displaced and needed immediate care.

[Barack_America]

5. Ultimately he was not admitted because physicians did not take a complete history.

Which always includes a travel history, especially when dealing with infections. I wonder how they documented their interview?

Now, as to why the Triage nurse did not push the issue of his recent travel, I have worried that, "I am just here from Liberia" may have translated into, "I have no insurance."

[kath]

6. Yes. The DOCTOR must take a thorough history. S/he cannot rely on the triage nurse to do this.

Also would have helped if the doc had actually read what the triage nurse had entered (into the computer, I presume) about the patient.

And what kind of a doctor prescribes *antibiotics* for what s/he presumed at the time was just a common viral infection?!??
An idiot, that's what kind.

[JEFF9K]

7. The Republican media ...

is trying to blame the whole thing on the Democrats.