CBS’ Robert Hendin drilled in a bit on the let the uninsured die moment from last night’s debate and offers the latest reminder that the sainted Ronald Reagan would probably not find a comfortable home at a tea party rally.
From Hendin:
The reason why people who don’t have health insurance can go to the hospital for emergency care and not be turned away, and therefore, have the cost of their care covered by the system, is simply because the federal government requires it.
But this is not a new thing arising from Mr. Obama’s health care law – or even Romney’s. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requires nearly every hospital to cover emergency care for those Americans who can’t afford it and says not to turn away the sick simply because they can’t pay for the care.
That is the premise of the question tonight: A healthy young American who doesn’t have health insurance suddenly needs emergency care. Federal law requires that that care is paid for. That law was passed in 1986, which means it was signed into law by not by Mr. Obama or even Bill Clinton, but by Ronald Reagan.