Hospitals Refusing Emergency Cases Could Lose Funds
The federal government threatened Friday to cancel Medicare payments for any hospital that fails to assist in a medical emergency.
The Health and Human Services Department singled out Ravens-wood Hospital Medical Center in Chicago, saying it will lose its authorization to participate in Medicare on June 21 unless it proves it has changed its ways.
Ravenswood changed its policy after an incident May 16 in which employees refused to leave the building to treat 15-year-old Christopher Sercye, a gunshot victim who died after his friends brought him to the hospital building.
They thought assisting the boy outside the hospital would have violated its policy.
The hospital said Friday that it is committed to meeting federal requirements.
In Washington, President Clinton said action would be taken against any hospital that fails to assist in a medical emergency.
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