Expanding Emergency Care Access: Freestanding Centers in Medicare/Medicaid
This act aims to improve access to emergency medical care by including freestanding emergency centers (FECs) in Medicare and Medicaid programs. This means more facilities will be able to provide emergency services, and the costs will be covered by insurance, potentially reducing patient expenses and increasing care availability.
Key points
Freestanding Emergency Centers (FECs) will be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for emergency services provided.
FECs must meet specific standards, including 24/7 physician and nursing staff, and have agreements with hospitals for patient referrals requiring further care.
The act extends EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act) regulations to freestanding emergency centers, obligating them to provide emergency care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Including FECs in insurance systems aims to increase access to emergency care, especially in rural areas, and potentially lower costs for Medicare programs and patients.
Introduced
Citizen Poll