Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur and pass a bill that defines going into labor and certain pregnancy complications as "emergency medical conditions" and mandate that emergency departments and other medical facilities treat patients with such conditions in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, and community clinics (facility) to provide emergency medical services to an individual who presents to the facility when the person requests or a request is made on the person's behalf for emergency medical services (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires the facility to input into a central log whether the person refused treatment or was denied treatment, whether no treatment was required, or whether the person was transferred, admitted and treated, stabilized and transferred, or discharged (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits a facility from denying or discriminating in providing emergency medical services to a patient for a discriminatory or unlawful reason (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits a facility from penalizing or taking adverse action against a health-care provider for refusing to transfer a patient with an emergency medical condition that has not been stabilized (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits a facility from delaying providing emergency medical services to a person to inquire about the individual’s ability to pay for emergency medical services (Sec. ).

• Prohibits a facility from transferring or discharging a patient with an emergency medical condition unless certain conditions are met (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health and Environment to investigate a facility that negligently violates the requirements of the bill (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that a physician who negligently violates the bill engages in unprofessional conduct and is subject to professional discipline (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that if a civil monetary penalty is imposed, the bill requires the maximum civil monetary penalty to be reduced by any civil monetary penalty imposed pursuant to the federal "Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act" for the same violation (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that defines going into labor and certain pregnancy complications as "emergency medical conditions" and mandate that emergency departments and other medical facilities treat patients with such conditions in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, and community clinics (facility) to provide emergency medical services to an individual who presents to the facility when the person requests or a request is made on the person's behalf for emergency medical services (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires the facility to input into a central log whether the person refused treatment or was denied treatment, whether no treatment was required, or whether the person was transferred, admitted and treated, stabilized and transferred, or discharged (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits a facility from denying or discriminating in providing emergency medical services to a patient for a discriminatory or unlawful reason (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits a facility from penalizing or taking adverse action against a health-care provider for refusing to transfer a patient with an emergency medical condition that has not been stabilized (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits a facility from delaying providing emergency medical services to a person to inquire about the individual’s ability to pay for emergency medical services (Sec. ).

• Prohibits a facility from transferring or discharging a patient with an emergency medical condition unless certain conditions are met (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health and Environment to investigate a facility that negligently violates the requirements of the bill (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that a physician who negligently violates the bill engages in unprofessional conduct and is subject to professional discipline (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that if a civil monetary penalty is imposed, the bill requires the maximum civil monetary penalty to be reduced by any civil monetary penalty imposed pursuant to the federal "Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act" for the same violation (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text