ER trys to redirect non-emergency care

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Folks using the ER as a primary care provider are being redirected.

New Fee For Non-Emergency ER Visits - WCYB

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"The new policy will impact about 10 to 20 percent of the medical center E.R. patients."

The 10 to 20 percent non-emergencies who are truthful about why they're there, that is.

The rest will be yelling "chest pain" as usual for any and everything.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

Honestly, new fees won't stop a lot of these people. Many just don't pay because they don't have insurance. We have many frequent flyers who use EMS as a taxi service, and when they are told about Medicaid not paying for non-emergencies, many continue to use EMS for non-emergent reasons anyway.

And for the non-emergent patients, isn't that why many ER's have Fast-Track now???

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

This doesn't solve the problem of doctors sending non-emergent patients to the ER. When I lived in Boston, which had no urgent care centers until 2 years ago, the ER was the only alternative for people who couldn't wait 3 weeks for care. Doctors sent patients to the ER for X-rays, MRIs, and CAT scans.

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

I actually think this is a really good idea. Is it going to deter everyone? No. Those people with no insurance that don't pay their medical bills anyway are probably not going to change their behavior. But, the guy that has a sore throat that wants to be seen after hours so he doesn't have to take a 1/2 day off work tomorrow -- I bet you anything doesn't want to pay an extra $250 to do it. He might go to the next hospital down the road, though. Probably to be reasonably effective all hospitals in an area would have to adopt a similar policy.

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I don't see that this will really change the number of non-emergency patients. I mean, all they do have to say like someone above is "chest pain" and they get in.

I do have to admit that I feel bad that some people's only option is to go to the ER for care. It's a shame that people can't get basic healthcare needs taken care of just because they don't have the money.

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I think it's a great idea, too, but just asking a question.....I thought it was federal law that hospital ED's had to see everyone who came thru the doors seeking treatment, emergency or not, whether they could pay or not.

So with the urgent care centers can ED's get around that law....if it is such a law?

Isn't that why hospitals got into trouble and many had to close their doors because the costs of care in the emergency room for non-paying people?

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.
I think it's a great idea, too, but just asking a question.....I thought it was federal law that hospital ED's had to see everyone who came thru the doors seeking treatment, emergency or not, whether they could pay or not.

So with the urgent care centers can ED's get around that law....if it is such a law?

Isn't that why hospitals got into trouble and many had to close their doors because the costs of care in the emergency room for non-paying people?

Nobody said they didn't have to treat them. They are just going to bill them more.

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.
I don't see that this will really change the number of non-emergency patients. I mean, all they do have to say like someone above is "chest pain" and they get in.

I do have to admit that I feel bad that some people's only option is to go to the ER for care. It's a shame that people can't get basic healthcare needs taken care of just because they don't have the money.

Not everybody is wise to the whole "chest pain" thing. Sure, the chronic narc users are and some of the other frequent flyers. I don't know about the general public, though.

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I think it's a great idea, too, but just asking a question.....I thought it was federal law that hospital ED's had to see everyone who came thru the doors seeking treatment, emergency or not, whether they could pay or not.

So with the urgent care centers can ED's get around that law....if it is such a law?

Isn't that why hospitals got into trouble and many had to close their doors because the costs of care in the emergency room for non-paying people?

It is, from what I understand. At least at my hospital it is. They even have a sign up in the ER that says if you are having an emergency or going into labor they are required to treat you, even if you can't pay.

You have to pay up front or before you leave (not sure which one) at urgent care. ED mails a bill.

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This has been tried before in my area. It doesn't work. The redirect clinics are huge money losers, which end up getting shut down after about a year or so. The uninsured who are diverted to it don't pay and usually know the system well enough to give false info so they can't be billed.

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Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

Awesome!

but it will never work. As we know well, patients will quickly start yelling CP to the triage nurse and forget your little fee.

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