(a) This section may be cited as the “Emergency Medical Care Act”.
(b) Because of the need for rapid assessment and care, in order to protect the life and health of the people of Arkansas during a medical emergency, it is found and declared necessary:
(1) To establish a definition for emergency medical care;
(2) To ensure that emergency medical care is provided in a timely manner by licensed and qualified personnel at a hospital's emergency department; and
(3) To ensure that emergency medical care is not delayed or denied based on:
(A) A person's ability to pay for expenses incurred during a medical emergency; or
(B) Prospective authorization of treatment by an insurance company, health maintenance organization, hospital medical service corporation, health benefit plan, or any other insurer.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) “Emergency medical care” means healthcare services provided in a hospital emergency facility to evaluate and treat medical conditions of a recent onset and severity, including, but not limited to, severe pain that would lead a prudent lay person, possessing an average knowledge of medicine and health, to believe that his or her condition, sickness, or injury is of such a nature that failure to get immediate medical care could result in:
(A) Placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy;
(B) Serious impairment to bodily functions; or
(C) Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part;
(2) “Emergency medical provider” means a hospital licensed by the Department of Health, hospital-based services or a physician licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board who provides emergency medical care; and
(3) “Prospective authorization” means contacting any insurer, health maintenance organization, hospital medical service corporation, or health benefit plan that is not physically present in the hospital's emergency department at the time the patient presents for emergency medical care for approval or authorization to evaluate and treat the patient.
(d)
(1) Once a person qualifying for emergency medical care presents to an emergency department, that person shall be evaluated by medical personnel. This evaluation may include diagnostic testing to assess the extent of the condition, sickness, or injury and radiographic procedures and interpretations by a radiologist.
(2) Appropriate intervention may be initiated by medical personnel to stabilize any condition presenting under this section before receiving authorization for the treatment by an insurer, health maintenance organization, hospital medical service corporation, or health benefit plan.