US Medical Term · regulatory
EMTALA
EMTALA (Ley de Tratamiento y Trabajo Activo de Emergencias Médicas)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | EMTALA |
| Spanish (Español) | EMTALA (Ley de Tratamiento y Trabajo Activo de Emergencias Médicas) |
| Chinese (中文) | EMTALA（紧急医疗处置和劳工法） |
| Korean (한국어) | EMTALA (응급의료처치 및 노동법) |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | EMTALA (Luật Điều trị Y tế Khẩn cấp và Lao động) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | EMTALA (Batas sa Emergency na Paggamot at Panganganak) |
| Portuguese (Português) | EMTALA (Lei de Tratamento Médico de Emergência e Trabalho) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | EMTALA (กฎหมายการรักษาพยาบาลฉุกเฉินและการคลอดบุตร) |
| Japanese (日本語) | EMTALA（緊急医療処置及び陣痛法） |
What it means
EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, is a federal law enacted in 1986 requiring Medicare-participating hospitals with emergency departments to provide a medical screening exam to any person who arrives seeking care—regardless of citizenship, ability to pay, or insurance status. If an emergency medical condition is found, the hospital must stabilize the patient or arrange an appropriate transfer. The law also applies to women in active labor. Violations can result in fines up to $50,000 per incident and loss of Medicare funding. EMTALA does not guarantee free care—billing still occurs—but it prevents outright refusal of emergency treatment. Patients who are improperly turned away may file complaints with CMS.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
Under EMTALA, the emergency room must screen you regardless of your ability to pay.
Bajo EMTALA, la sala de emergencias debe evaluarlo independientemente de su capacidad de pago.
EMTALA requires the hospital to stabilize your condition before transferring you to another facility.
EMTALA requiere que el hospital estabilice su condición antes de trasladarlo a otra instalación.
If the hospital turned you away without a screening exam, you may file an EMTALA complaint with CMS.
Si el hospital le negó la atención sin una evaluación médica, puede presentar una queja de EMTALA ante el CMS.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026