Texas medicine
-
National attention has been directed to the problem of "dumping" of uninsured patients upon public hospitals. Federal law addresses only transfers of emergency room patients without regard to possible financial motivation. ⋯ Both the hospital and the physician responsible for the care of a patient who is transferred in violation of the law may be subject to Medicare sanctions, including termination or suspension from participation and fines up to $50,000 for each occurrence. Proposed regulations affirm that private practitioners who provide uncompensated emergency room services under an oral agreement may be subject to sanctions in the event of a violation.
-
This article originally was prepared for presentation at the 1988 Texas Health Law Conference, Nov 4, 1988, in Austin. It appears this month in Texas Medicine to emphasize the importance of state and federal laws that require reporting of certain peer review actions by hospitals, medical societies, and other organizations to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (TSBME). ⋯ Young, is staff counsel for the TSBME. He formerly was staff attorney and director, Office of Medical Ethics, at Texas Medical Association.