EMTALA Update: Emergency Medical and Labor Act in 2022 (Part 2)

Overview:

Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals have had to comply with  EMTALA regulations for over 35 years.  Yet, there are increasing number of investigations and escalating civil monetary penalties for non-compliance.  This three-part series reviews the basic requirements of EMTALA, examines the most problem prone areas including adequacy of medical screening examinations and appropriate transfers; and recent deficiencies and civil monetary penalties nationwide.

Objectives:

• Describe what constitutes an adequate medical screening exam for behavioral health, obstetric and other patients
• Describe what constitutes an appropriate certification of false labor
• Illustrate what an appropriate transfer entails for behavioral health, obstetric and other patients
• Examine the documentation requirements for difficult patient situations

Presenter:

Nancy Ruzicka, BS, RPh, MBA, MJ, CHC, Ruzicka Consulting

Nancy Ruzicka has experience teaching and assisting hospitals and other healthcare facilities in understanding applicable Federal and State laws, rules, regulations and interpretative guidelines. Her experience also encompasses teaching all levels of healthcare staff in understanding compliance and HIPAA requirements. Nancy has been a frequent speaker for the Iowa Hospital Association on EMTALA and Conditions of Participation for hospitals and critical access hospitals.

Nancy’s previous experiences include Director of Integrity & Compliance and Privacy Official at Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines; Director of Regulatory Compliance at UnityPoint Health and over twenty years of experience with Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Nancy received her MJ in Health Law, MBA and BS in Pharmacy from Drake University, Des Moines. She is certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) and maintains her Iowa pharmacy license.