The Center for Reproductive Rights filed complaints with HHS on behalf of two women who allegedly were turned away from two Texas hospitals when seeking ectopic pregnancy care.
Through this action, the hospitals — Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital — violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, according to an Aug. 12 news release from the center.
EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide medical screening exams and treatment to patients experiencing emergency medical conditions, regardless of the individual's ability to pay. Under EMTALA, hospitals are also required to provide transfer if they are not capable of providing care or at the patient's request.
Abortion is highly restricted in Texas, though ectopic pregnancy-related abortion is allowed due to the condition's life-threatening nature.
The women now have permanent damage to their reproductive organs because of the delay in care, the release said.
CMS earlier this year launched investigations into two hospitals in Missouri and Kansas for allegedly failing to provide stabilizing care to pregnant patients experiencing medical emergencies.
CMS issued a memo Aug. 13 with updated signage outlining patients' rights under EMTALA, which emergency departments are required to post in waiting areas or areas where patients are examined or treated.
In a statement to Becker's, an Ascension spokesperson said, "While we cannot speak to the specifics of this case at this time, let us be clear that we deny the allegations. When a patient experiences an urgent, life-threatening condition during pregnancy, clinicians do provide medically indicated treatment, even if it may result in the removal of an ectopic pregnancy. Such treatments are clinically necessary and compliant within the law."
Texas Health has not commented on the complaint as of this writing.
Editor's note: Becker's has reached out to HHS Texas Health for comment and will update this article if more information is received.