Uninsured friend on FB had to go to ER, was rejected for a needed colonoscopy.

[SheilaT]

5. Emergency rooms are only required to stabilize a patient,

give an appropriate referral for follow-up care, and discharge.

And they only need to do that if the accept Medicare payments, which is probably almost every hospital in the company, especially those who have emergency rooms.

There has long been a popular notion that all ERs treat all comers fully, but that simply isn't the case. What makes it seem confusing is that if you're in a car accident, or you have a broken bone, or flu symptoms, you will get treated, because these are simple and straight forward things. Abdominal pain and bloody stools? Going to require lots of diagnostic stuff. Presumably they gave your friend some sort of medicine to relieve symptoms, but they, unfortunately, have no obligation beyond that.

There ought to be some sort of department in the hospital that can help him get even temporary coverage for treatment. While it may be too late, I hope he is signing up for Obamacare.

Alas, this is far too common a story in this country.