From my cousin Mark who consistently maintains a conservative approach to private life and progressive liberal view in politics:
"You know the law that requires hospital emergency rooms to treat patients whether they have insurance or not? That was a piece of Reagan legislation passed in 1986. Reagancare, you might call it.
From Wikipedia:
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a U.S. Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). It requires hospitals to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. There are no reimbursement provisions. (My emphasis!) Participating hospitals may only transfer or discharge patients needing emergency treatment under their own informed consent, after stabilization, or when their condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment.
Imagine, Ronald Reagan making private hospitals do something whether they liked it or not! What a Kenyan socialist!" |
