COBRA legislation: complying with ED provisions. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985

With the passage of the COBRA transfer provisions, Congress has put hospitals on notice that patient dumping will no longer be tolerated. It is incumbent on hospitals to provide thorough guidelines of the COBRA requirements to its medical and nursing staff. The wise hospital administrator will ensure that comprehensive transfer procedures will be put into effect that are in accord with the COBRA provisions. Financial triage of patients in the emergency department could prove to be a costly problem for the hospital that misses an emergency condition.