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BY KIM ST. ONGE

ANCHOR CHRISTY LEWIS

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Food poisoning, excessive bleeding from a possible miscarriage, or chest pains -- health symptoms that would usually mean a trip to the emergency room. But NWCN reports a new Washington law says... think again.

“Sixty thousand sick people people come through the emergency room each year. Many of them are low income Medicaid patients who now, under a new state law, are limited to how many times they can visit the ER.”

The new law limits coverage for low-income Medicaid patients to three non-emergency visits to the ER each year for any of the 700 diagnoses the state says are not usually emergencies.

Now, doctors fired up over the new law are suing the state of Washington. KOMO reports doctors are asking how are patients supposed to know when they’re having a real emergency?

“This is very frightening for patients to be told that they’re at risk and that they shouldn’t be coming here for things that they’ve heard all their lives on T.V. are things that they need to seek emergency care for.”

The Seattle Times quotes the state’s medical director for Medicaid, who blames the budget crisis for the cuts. He argues these restrictions could help more people in the long run.

“As many as half the high-use ER patients are seeking drugs and because ERs are so crowded, patients with true emergencies may not get the attention they need. And helping steer patients with chronic conditions away from the ER isn't a bad thing because ERs can't help with the long-term management of diseases such as asthma.”

A writer for Care2 quotes the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians president, saying if this new law stands, the cost-cutting trend could spread beyond Washington.

“This list of non-emergent diagnoses puts patients in danger and unfairly targets the poor and those in the most need of care. ... We understand that our state Medicaid office is working with 19 other states to develop this policy. If this plan goes into effect, other states will certainly follow suit.”

Doctors and lawmakers were able to agree on some exceptions to help cases including patients with mental health issues, foster children, and anyone arriving by ambulance.


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