TNF-a

I don’t understand why there is a “is healthcare a privilege or right” debate in America. #EMTALA has made healthcare a right, period. This 1986 federal statute mandates EVERYONE gets medically screened for an emergency and given emergency treatment if needed, regardless of ability to pay. It’s why you can walk into any ER and be seen in the US…It’s just that the bill comes later. The question is who is paying for this?Even though we don’t have “universal healthcare”, here’s the punchline: YOU (taxpayers) are paying for it, whether you like it or not, via: -Taxes going to your local county hospital -Taxes going to the government and then disbursed to hospitals for charity care as DSH payments or tax-exemptions to non-profits -Cost shifting by hospitals to offset non-paying patients (in other words, hospitals charge higher prices knowing that the paying patients of these higher prices offset the non-paying patients) EMTALA was an unfunded mandate —and YOU are being taxed on it. A thoughtful healthcare reform would help create an actual system of comprehensive healthcare beyond just emergency care. Primary and preventative care, chronic disease management, can drastically decrease emergency needs. Systematic change would allow us to contain costs, improve efficiency and actually look at hard questions like access and funding— not just slap it all into the ER and hope and pray for the best.