S-2207 fails, stricter EMTALA, where is the future of EM?

[melonque]

More ED closing down each year, ridiculous enforcement/interpretation of EMTALA each year, S2207 only received 7 vote and did not even get to the floor for senate to debate. FYI, S2207 is about OB/Gyn and Trauma care liability cap.... Seriously what do you guys think of EM in next five or ten years? No one have a crystal ball, how about a trend? Thanks.

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[beriberi]

From AAEM.org:

A Democrat-led filibuster resulted in the defeat of S.2207 today. The final tally, 49 in favor to 48 against, fell short of the 60 votes needed to bring the bill forward for a vote in the Senate. The legislation would have limited noneconomic
damages to $250,000 in medical malpractice cases against ED/trauma doctors and OB/GYNs, similar to another Senate bill that died earlier this year. A broader malpractice reform bill was defeated last year.

Though the result of this vote was expected, debate isn't likely to end. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has vowed to keep bringing the issue before the Senate until a malpractice reform bill passes.


So, it didn't just receive "7 votes." Also, EMTALA's new "Final Rule" that was issued in September 03, has significant improvements in it, allowing non-emergency areas of the hospital to choose not to deal with emergencies (among many other provisions). Let's not start this discussion with a bunch of inaccurate "sky-is-falling" about emergency medicine.