John Falcetano (john.falcetano@brooksrehab.org) is Director, Corporate Compliance at Brooks Health System in Jacksonville, FL.
A critical element of any effective compliance program is monitoring. As a service to our members, each month this column focuses on potential monitors for specific business lines.
Compliance professionals who work at Medicare participating hospitals should monitor compliance with the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). EMTALA was established to ensure the public had access to emergency services, regardless of ability to pay. EMTALA requires hospitals to provide a medical screening examination (MSE) to every individual, including women in labor, the unborn child, and newborn infants who present for care to a dedicated emergency department.