Refussing Patient due to balance?

Question

I just went to the Dr's office and was refused to be seen due to me having an outstanding non-paid balance with another Dr.'s office. Now to my understanding I always thought you couldn't refuse a patient for any reason.

Is this legal or not?

Answer 1

you can refuse to service anyone, for any reason. Only exception is that in an emergency room they cannot refuse treatment due to economic, or legal status, they must treat you, stabilize you then send you to county hospital for treatment.

Answer 2

I just wanted to clear up a misconception regarding when and where you must be treated.

There is no law in any of the 50 states which requires a physicial or hospital to treat you even in an emergency room.

there are however, provisions in law and the hospital's own charter which require such. For example, if you are brought into the emergency room with a gunshot and are hanging on to life, then the dictates of the hospital charter and liability statutes may require treatment.

However, if you go to the emergency room for a cold you can be turned away.

This is a very big misconception and one that causes problems in the legal system when a patient is not seen or seen behind other patients in Hospital emergency rooms.

Answer 3

The ER can't refuse to treat you, a private office can. I used to work for a doctor and we turned away patients now and then because of their outstanding balances. If you're really ill go to the ER or try a local health dept clinic. Most doctors aren't going to waste time and resources with a patient who doesn't have a stellar history of paying.

Answer 4

A physicians office is a business - and just like you cannot take a cart load of groceries out of the store without paying, you cannot take health care services without paying. The exclusion is the Emergency Departments covered by EMTALA.

This is NOT a reason to need health care reform - this is a reason for people to step up to the plate and be responsible for their lives and stop expecting health care providers to eat the cost of their care! If you cannot afford your doctor go to a clinic - don't like the care that the clinic provides then bust butt and get to a point where you can afford a different setting.

Answer 5

Yes that is legal. They can refuse to treat you if you havent paid them at a private doctor's office. At an ER however, during an emergency they cant refuse you. Pay your bill or at least start making regular payments to the doctor if you want them to treat you again!

Answer 6

Doctors can refuse to see you in his office. They cannot refuse anyone coming into an emergency room at a hospital.

Answer 7

Sure its legal....the law you are referring has to do with hospitals that recieve funding from the federal government. And it only only requires them to examine you and stabilize befor transferring them somewhere else....what would make you think theis doctor should see you if you a demonstated history of not paying for doctors services?

Answer 8

It is most definitely legal.
It is also a sound business practice.
No body needs to cater to people who can't pay their bills nor should they be expected to.
Do you work for free?
Dr's offices have bills to pay too and if you can't pay your bill- there is no reason for them to bother with you.
Unless your injury or illness is life threatening or you are in labor no medical facility is legally obligated to treat you.

Answer 9

They sure can. They will not refuse you emergency treatment, but they are providing a service, if you fail to pay, then you are the one in the wrong.

Answer 10

mnwoman is correct, but if you report to the emergency room their only obligation (if you are unable to pay) is that they must stablize you and then they can transfer you to a public hospital for further treatment or send you home if you don't need hospitalization.