So just curious to hear some other opinions of this. Our hospital is considering a serious overhaul of its ER practices due to the upcoming reductions in Medicaid. All patients presenting with any complaint are to have a medical screening exam (as per EMTALA) performed by the mid-level provider stationed out in the triage area. If, according to the medical screening, the person does not have an emergent condition, an appointed person (new "care finder" position) will give the person a choice of either being seen in the ER but they will have to pay upfront for the care OR they will be provided with the names of clinics where they can go to be treated. According to EMTALA, the ER is not required to treat anyone other than those presenting with emergent conditions or in active labor. I work in an inner city not for profit hospital where it seems the majority of the patients are uninsured or on Medicaid. It is also a rather poor area and of course people frequently use the ER for routine medical problems. I was just wondering what anyone else thought of this idea.