Jackson Health System Agreed to Pay $233,000 for Allegedly Violating Patient Dumping Statute by Failing to Provide Appropriate Medical Screening Examinations and Stabilizing Treatment

On January 12, 2024, Jackson Health System (JHS), Miami, Florida, entered into a $233,886.90 settlement agreement with OIG. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that JHS violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) when it failed to provide an appropriate medical screening examination and stabilization treatment to a patient and failed to provide further medical examination and treatment to a second patient. Based on its investigation, OIG concluded that on July 29, 2021, JHS violated the requirements of EMTALA by failing to provide an appropriate medical screening exam and stabilizing treatment to patient C.D. at Jackson South Medical Center (Jackson South). C.D. died in the Jackson South Emergency Department (ED) of complications of novel coronavirus infection after waiting approximately 10 hours without triage or a medical screening examination. OIG also concluded that on October 4, 2021, JHS violated the requirements of EMTALA by failing to provide further medical examination and treatment to patient G.H. who was brought to Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital for psychiatric assessment. The psychiatrist who performed G.H.’s medical screening examination determined that G.H. had an elevated risk of harm to himself and others. The psychiatrist ordered that G.H. be monitored and observed every 15 minutes while in crisis so that a determination could be made regarding admission for stabilization and management, or discharge. The ED staff failed to perform the ordered safety observations and G.H. was found dead in his room approximately 2.5 hours after the last safety check. Senior Counsel Julie Redlinger represented OIG.

Share