Trauma Patients Without Insurance Taken Off Life Support Sooner, Study Finds – MedPage Today

“This would appear to go against the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which requires that all critically ill patients in hospitals receive optimal care regardless of insurance status or financial means. But more than two-thirds of uninsured trauma patients are at risk of catastrophic health expenditures, noted Hoit and colleagues, and if these patients are unable to pay, the financial responsibility may shift to the institutions caring for them. One study from 2013 estimated a $2.8 billion annual tab for uninsured trauma care in the U.S.”

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Trauma Activation Fees Vary Widely Across US Trauma Centers – HealthAffairs

Researchers found a $40 to $28,893 range.

A baby was treated with a nap and a bottle of formula. His parents received an $18,000 bill. – Vox

“An ER patient can be charged thousands of dollars in ‘trauma fees’ — even if they weren’t treated for trauma.”

What is a “trauma activation” and why does it cost so much? – Physician’s Weekly

“Despite attempts to do so, bills like those mentioned in the Tampa Bay Times and Vox stories are impossible to defend.”

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