THE QUESTION: Does a hospital have a different duty to an indigent person who comes to the emergency room than to a person who has insurance? Please explain your answer fully.

THE STUDENTS RESPONSE: A hospital should provide uniform care to any person who seeks medical treatment in an emergency room. The Bible reminds leaders of the importance of helping one another, especially the poor: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sister of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40, New International Version). The person, regardless of the ability to pay, should be examined and stabilized before discharged home or transferred to another facility (Showalter, 2012).

Most not-for-profit hospitals were actually started for the sole purpose of caring for the indigent. When relating to our fellow man, it seems cruel to turn someone away when they are in need of healing. Over the years, the laws have shifted in order to prevent hospitals from cherry-picking patients. There are now systems in place to prevent hospitals from transferring patients or denying emergency access to patients based on the inability to pay.

Overall, hospitals should provide the same level of care to both the indigent and insured patient. However, behind the scenes, social workers and case managers must do work diligently to find the most cost-effective way to stabilize, treat, and discharge the uninsured patient (all the while making sure treatment is equitable to the insured). Uninsured patients still pose a unique problem for hospitals in light of revenue. For this reason, the government’s attempt at a universal health care system that would provide coverage for all may actually help hospitals that receive a lot of uninsured patients.

Showalter, J. S. (2012). The Law of Healthcare Administration. (7th ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. ISBN: 978-1-56793-644-5.

120 word reply either agreeing disagreeing or relating to the students re

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