In an interview with Medscape Medical News, Rep. Joe Heck, DO, FACEP (R-Nev.) recommended that physicians receive a formalized tax credit for providing uncompensated care.
Rep. Heck, who served for approximately 30 years as an emergency physician, said while he does necessarily believe the federal government should provide funding for EMTALA services, he does think physicians should receive a tax credit for that care. EMTALA is a federal law that requires any patient coming to an emergency department to be stabilized and treated, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Rep. Heck said he does not believe the government should fund uncompensated care under EMTALA primarily because the country cannot afford it. He said that instead, primary care physicians who provide uncompensated care should be able to write that care off as a charitable deductible or the cost of doing business.
Read the Medscape Medical News report on Rep. Joe Heck.
Related Articles on Coding, Billing and Collections:
CMS Gives State Medicaid Agencies Expanded Access to Medicare Data
Surgery Center Coding Guidance: Grafts Used In Spine Surgery
Number of People With High-Deductible Health Plans Jumps 5.5M From 2007-2010
Rep. Heck, who served for approximately 30 years as an emergency physician, said while he does necessarily believe the federal government should provide funding for EMTALA services, he does think physicians should receive a tax credit for that care. EMTALA is a federal law that requires any patient coming to an emergency department to be stabilized and treated, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Rep. Heck said he does not believe the government should fund uncompensated care under EMTALA primarily because the country cannot afford it. He said that instead, primary care physicians who provide uncompensated care should be able to write that care off as a charitable deductible or the cost of doing business.
Read the Medscape Medical News report on Rep. Joe Heck.
Related Articles on Coding, Billing and Collections:
CMS Gives State Medicaid Agencies Expanded Access to Medicare Data
Surgery Center Coding Guidance: Grafts Used In Spine Surgery
Number of People With High-Deductible Health Plans Jumps 5.5M From 2007-2010