Photo in EMTALA story wouldn't happen today

In the March 28 cover story (“Why patients still need EMTALA,”) it was refreshing to see the photo of former President Ronald Reagan signing the EMTALA legislation, including three Republican and four Democratic members of Congress wholeheartedly supporting a Republican president enacting an important piece of bipartisan legislation. This would not happen in today's poisonous political environment, where deals like this are considered giving in and being weak-minded. Thanks for the reminder that only 30 years ago we lived in a much different political place.

Matthew Peterson

Regarding “Why patients still need EMTALA,” it would be additionally interesting to pursue the query of why this mandate remains unfunded. It appears to be another example of why we need government intervention. Yet the unfunded aspect is hurting the very institutions—the nonpublic hospitals—that seem to support the legislators who are resistant to providing the funding. Why does this not surprise?

Nicholas Fusco