Every hospital that has an emergency department and accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients must follow the federal law and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conditions of participation (CoPs) interpretive guidelines on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Hospitals without emergency departments must comply with EMTALA if they have specialized capabilities. EMTALA can also impact obstetrical patients and behavioral health patients. The federal EMTALA law and the accompanying regulations are complex. This program is structured to make the requirements understandable with the liberal use of examples.