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HR 4992 108th Congress House

Ensuring Access to Emergency Rooms Act of 2004

Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to protect certain health care providers against legal liability for providing emergency and related care to uninsured individuals.

Introduced: September 7, 2004 See on congress.gov
Health AppropriationsCivil actions and liabilityCommerceContractors
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Economics and Public FinanceEmergency ManagementEmergency medicineGovernment liabilityGroup medical practiceHospitalsLawLiability (Law)Medical malpracticeMedically uninsuredMedicarePhysiciansPublic health personnelSocial Welfare
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 22, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jul 22, 2004
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 22, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 22, 2004

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ensuring Access to Emergency Rooms Act of 2004 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to deem hospitals, emergency rooms, physicians, and physicians groups that provide emergency care to uninsured individuals employees of the Public Health Service for purposes of any civil action that may arise due to items and services furnished and post-stabilization services provided to such individuals.

Requires the Attorney General to make separate estimates as to the cost of claims expected to arise under this Act and to establish separate funds for such claims. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to limit the total amount of payments under this Act to the amounts appropriated in advance for such purposes.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4992: Ensuring Access to Emergency Rooms Act of 2004. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4992/
MLA
"H.R. 4992: Ensuring Access to Emergency Rooms Act of 2004." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4992/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4992, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4992/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4992: Ensuring Access to Emergency Rooms Act of 2004](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4992/)
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