Updated CMP and Affirmative Exclusions | EMTALA/Patient Dumping

On June 18, 2026, Methodist Healthcare - Memphis Hospitals (Methodist), Memphis, Tennessee, entered into a $107,000 settlement agreement with OIG. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that Methodist violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Based on its investigation, OIG concluded that in September 2022, Methodist failed to provide an appropriate medical screening examination to a 60-year old patient who presented to Method's Emergency Department (ED) via emergency medical services (EMS) while Methodist was on critical advisory status. The patient's complaints included left arm pain, difficulty breathing, hypertension, and tachycardia. The patient had an abnormal EKG that was transmitted to the hospital prior to arrival. EMS vital signs upon arrival to the ED included a blood pressure of 192/173 and heart rate of 136. The patient was placed in the waiting room. When a nurse called the patient for triage 1 hour later, the patient had soiled himself, refused assistance with cleaning up, and reportedly refused to enter the triage room. The patient's mental capacity was not evaluated at this time. The patient was not called a second time for triage for approximately 1¾ hours. After approximately 2½ hours in the ED waiting room, without vital signs, triage, or any other type of assessment, the patient went outside in Methodist's wheelchair for a smoke and missed the second triage call, approximately 30 minutes after he left. The patient also missed the third triage call, 30 minutes after the second call. The patient was discovered approximately 4 hours after he went outside to smoke, unresponsive in Methodist's parking garage. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and the patient was pronounced deceased.