Federal citations for hospital violations of EMTALA requirements have risen in recent years.
Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, hospitals are required to screen and stabilize all their emergency department patients regardless of their ability to pay for their care.
According to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the proportion of hospitals cited for EMTALA violations rose from four percent of all inspected hospitals in 2019 to 6.9 percent in 2024 – the highest proportion since at least 2010. The proportion declined to 6.6 percent last year and appears to be trending downward again so far this year.
The shortcomings most frequently cited by inspectors have been compliance with general EMTALA requirements, medical screening exams, and facilitating appropriate transfers.
Learn more about the increase in EMTALA violations and what may be behind them from the Becker’s Hospital Review article “EMTALA citations climb to record highs.”