As of Saturday, November 10, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
COVINGTON -- Newton Medical Center announced Friday afternoon that beginning Monday there will be a $150 up-front deposit for Emergency Room patients who are uninsured and who are not suffering from an emergency medical condition. Insured patients will be required to pay their co-pay or deductible.
The new rule will go into effect at 9 a.m.
"This is something we've been considering for sometime now," said Linda Mosely Komich, director of marketing and business development for the hospital. "Actually all other hospitals in the area do this in some form or fashion. This not about making money. This is about preserving the emergency department for what it was intended -- it was intended for emergencies."
The statement went on to say, "Per the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA,) all patients will continue to receive a medical examination and offered treatment. If a patient is determined to have an emergency, they will continue to receive care, regardless of ability to pay. However, if a patient is determined not to have an emergency, and still requests further treatment, they will be required to pay a $150 initial deposit via cash, credit or debit card for services rendered. Patients that choose to seek care elsewhere will be given a community resource guide for available services."
Mosely emphasized that residents who feel they are suffering an emergency, whether they have money to pay or not, should seek medical assistance.
"Nobody should ever hesitate to come," she said. "Come to the hospital if you are having an emergency."
More like this story
- LETTERS: Locals would benefit from trauma care at Newton Medical ( April 14, 2011 )
- Senate passes bill to allow cancer center ( May 30, 2009 )
- Ficquett would serve as alternate medical site in emergency ( September 22, 2011 )
- Medical Center adjusting to new tax, laws ( January 1, 2011 )
- Newton Medical Center steps up efficiency through business management training ( February 3, 2011 )
Comments
INJUSTICE_FOR_ALL 6 months, 2 weeks ago
no problem put it on my ebt card.
Elmo 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Great idea.
The emergency room is for emergencies, and is not there to take care of the sniffles, or tummy aches.
Maybe this will get the point across, because posting signs with "EMERGENCY" written in Spanish obviously didn't.
EarlyBird 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Brilliant idea.
It will get rid of the losers and illegals that have a headache or a sore throat that pilfer the taxpayers.
kellygreen 6 months, 2 weeks ago
I just want to add some facts: Statistics show that out of all the races in America who uses food stamps and government handouts whites hold the highest number:
Food Stamp Use By Race* (as of the 2010 FY)
Whites: 35% participation | 63.7% of US population
African Americans: 22% participation | 12.2% of US population
Hispanic: 10% participation | 16.3% of US population
Asian: 2% participation | 4.7% of US population
American Indian: 4% participation | 0.7% of US population
This really puts things in perspective especially considering that most republicans and racist want to put all the blame on African Americans. This information is readily available. Just do your own research stop spreading lies and saying hurtful ignorant racist things.
mrbill 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Yes 35 percent of all people who use food stamps are white, while 22 percent of all people who use food stamps are African American. Yet whites are 63.7 percent of the US population and African Americans are only 12.2 percent of the US population. Statistically, many more African Americans use food stamps per capita than whites or Hispanics. Thanks for sharing
DawgsFan 6 months, 2 weeks ago
The problem is perception. I personally see more blacks use EBT cards so I could easily assume more blacks than other races depend on food stamps. I read about blacks selling EBT cards for cash.
Kelly's numbers are indeed accurate; they may be a little old based on this publication by the USDA in 2010. Refer to table A.21 on page 57.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/MENU/Published/snap/FILES/Participation/2010Characteristics.pdf
DawgsFan 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Speaking of food stamps- I have not fact checked everything from this web site, but what I have has been accurate. After looking at these charts I can see that Clinton did a very good job controlling food stamps. The Bush's not so much, and Obama has let it get out of control!
http://www.trivisonno.com/food-stamps-charts
Elmo 6 months, 2 weeks ago
kellygreen, you're obviously another one that doesn't get it...this is a "comments" board, a board for opinions. It is not a news story, or a campaign commercial.
Therefore, there can be no lies, per se, if it is based on opinion.
I'm sorry you can't seem to grasp that simple concept.
My opinion about the emergency room is based on my experiences while visiting them on occasion, for a real emergency.
But, I get it...you just like to find a reason to call everyone a "racist" now and then...it's like a hobby with you, huh?
Grow up.
kellygreen 6 months, 1 week ago
Elmo...who cares.
wavace 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Kelly, may I see a link as to where you got this information from please? Not that I am saying its untrue since it is posted on the internet, but I am curious where you got this from. Thanks in advance!
DawgsFan 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Quick Google search yielded the following web site: http://www.loop21.com/white-myth-black-people-love-food-stamps
It's formatted the same way, looks like Kelly copy pasted.
kellygreen 6 months, 1 week ago
and your point is....
heresyafacts 6 months, 2 weeks ago
By your own numbers, 23% of the black population is on food stamps vs 7% of whites. Do you know what should really concern you? 72% of children born out of wedlock are born to black mothers -- to rephrase, three-fourths of all illegitimate children are black. Children born to single mothers are more likely to live in poverty, do poorly in school, and suffer emotional and behavioral problems. Children born to single mothers are more likely to engage in criminal behavior. Those are facts, madam.
kellygreen 6 months, 1 week ago
and what do you think is the cause of all this?
heresyafacts 6 months, 1 week ago
Really, I'd love to hear your theories, kellygreen. Tell me: why are three-fourths of all illegitimate children born to black mothers?
dre2013 4 months, 3 weeks ago
You can quote "facts" as much as you desire, just as a crooked researcher can manipulate data to win approval for a dangerous drug. It's been done in science since data collection began. I would imagine that a sizeable percentage of the US population is on food stamps. No race is spared in poverty and the fact that one race has a lower percentage utilizing aid excludes many contributing factors. I personally wouldn't trust the data anyway, just as I didn't trust the polls in this last election. Moving on, the term 'illegitimate' is a term that has largely been used in a negative connotation. No human being is ever born illegitimately. To suggest such an ignorant classification reeks of pungent, cerebral decay by the user. Wedlock is also a term that has gone largely into disuse, especially since a larger percentage of the US population has never been married, or is divorced, or widowed. And, while you are spewing statistics, please revisit each and every instance of young male citizens shooting large numbers of innocent citizens. You know, the crazed demons who were born into two-parent households, who were not impoverished, (the most recent one lived on a $250,000 yearly child support settlement) who did not appear to do poorlly in school, yet suffered emotional problems. They have killed at every level of school, from elementary through university, yet they are considered normal (at least as far as data collection goes). The flawed statistics do show a slight correlation of children born to single mothers having a predisposition to criminal behavior, but the evidence (the real evidence) shows that those from two-parent households, both employed are much more likely to revolt against society and engage in killing of large numbers of innocent individuals. The others simply end up in corporate America, raiding companies (including hospitals), pension plans, insurance plans (e.g. Medicare), government programs, real estate - all considered "white collar" crime. My point - if you're going to point fingers, level the playing field.
CitizenPat 6 months, 2 weeks ago
I hope patient's are familiar with the EMTALA regulations: only a Physician, Physician's Assistant, or possible a Nurse Practionar is considered acceptable to perform an emergency evaluation; which EMTALA requires be performed on all Emergency Room patients regardless of their ability to pay. This will require most Emergency Room's to change their Triage process as in most instance's it is an RN performing this evaluation. This means that they will have to pay someone the big bucks if they want the formal screening.
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