ED care of psychiatric patients in MO

ED care of psychiatric patients in MO


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We are aware of reports of hospital surveyors possibly mentioning that ED physicians are not able to properly evaluate and clear patients with potential psychiatric emergencies. If surveyors are doing this, we believe this is wrong, and any interpretation of emergency physicians committing an EMTALA violation by clearing these patients, to also be incorrect. We are working with the Missouri Hospital Association to rectify this issue. Attached is a letter that the Missouri Hospital Association recently sent to CMS about this issue. We plan to continue to work with the MHA and MSMA on this issue.

CMS Region 7 Letter ED Physicians