Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida entered into a $113,407 settlement agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General on January 28, 2026 to resolve allegations that the hospital violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act by failing to provide an appropriate medical screening examination.
Federal Settlement Agreement
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General concluded its investigation and determined that Holmes Regional Medical Center agreed to resolve the alleged violation through a financial settlement. The settlement amount was $113,407.
The enforcement action involved the federal patient dumping law, which is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. The settlement resolved allegations concerning the hospital’s failure to provide a proper medical screening examination to a patient who presented to the hospital’s Emergency Department.
The enforcement action was categorized as Civil Monetary Penalties and Affirmative Exclusions enforcement activity.
Incident Involving Pregnant Patient
The investigation involved an incident that occurred in August 2022. A patient presented to the Emergency Department at Holmes Regional Medical Center while 30 weeks pregnant. The patient sought examination or treatment for high blood pressure.
The patient arrived at the Emergency Department accompanied by a minor child estimated to be approximately four to six years old. While completing an intake form, a security guard informed the patient that the minor child was not permitted in the triage area. The patient left the Emergency Department without receiving an appropriate medical screening examination.
The Office of Inspector General determined that the failure to provide a medical screening examination in that situation constituted a violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act Requirements
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act establishes obligations for Medicare participating hospitals that operate emergency departments. The law requires hospitals to provide a medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment to individuals who seek emergency care regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.
Hospitals must determine whether an emergency medical condition exists when a patient presents to the emergency department requesting evaluation or treatment.
Patients may not be transferred to another hospital unless stabilizing treatment has been provided, unless the patient requests the transfer in writing, unless the benefits outweigh the risks, or unless the hospital lacks the capability to stabilize the patient and the receiving hospital agrees to accept the transfer.
Enforcement Determination
The Office of Inspector General concluded that Holmes Regional Medical Center failed to provide an appropriate medical screening examination to the patient involved in the August 2022 incident.
The HIPAA-covered hospital entered into the settlement agreement with the Office of Inspector General to resolve the alleged Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act violation. The settlement amount agreed upon was $113,407.