A Program Of The Georgia Department Of Community Health 
A SNAPSHOT OF GEORGIA 
Emergency medical assistance 
 
Overview 
 
Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) is a federally mandated program which provides medical coverage to individuals who meet all requirements for a Medicaid Class of Assistance (COA) except for citizenship requirements, and who have received an emergency medical service. 
 
Program Description 
 
EMA covers persons who are ineligible for Medicaid due to not being United States citizens or other reasons. This population could include immigrants who are aged, blind, disabled, pregnant women, children, or parents with dependent children. 
 
These persons may apply to get assistance to pay bills that were incurred due to a medical emergency. EMA is not an ongoing coverage plan. Applicants must apply for this service as each medical emergency is incurred. In addition, EMA may not pay all expenses for care, since it only covers the care that treats the immediate emergency. 
 
Annual Expenditures for Emergency Medical Assistance FY 2002 
- FY 2008 (May 2008) 
 
Time Period 
 
Patients 
 
Net Payment 
 
FY 2003 
 
19,630 
 
$70,706,792.00 
 
FY 2004 
 
25,641 
 
$94,532,840.36 
 
FY 2005 
 
28,031 
 
$109,534,993.90 
 
FY 2006 
 
26,387 
 
$106,096,164.60 
 
Definition of an Emergency 
 
FY 2007 FY 08 ytd 
 
22,205 19,152 
 
$83,676,954.32 $66,960,100.82 
 
An emergency is defined as the onset acute 
 
symptoms of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical attention could result 
 
FY 2008 Expenditures for Emergency Medical Assistance Pregnancy Deliveries Only* 
 
in: nPlacing the patient's health in serious jeopardy; 
 
Fiscal Year FY 2008 ytd 
 
Patients 12,671 
 
Net Payment $41,480,693.90 
 
nSerious impairment to bodily functions; or 
 
nSerious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. 
 
In addition, all labor and delivery is considered an emergency by federal definition. Care and 
 
services can not be related to an organ transplant procedure or routine prenatal or 
 
postpartum care. 
 
Member Eligibility 
 
A Medicaid Eligibility worker will review an application to determine if the client is eligible for a Medicaid COA. If a person is eligible for COA but not a citizen, he may be eligible to receive EMA. The clinical information is then reviewed by an external clinical review organization to determine whether the care was emergent, before a final decision is made. 
 
2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 w www.dch.georgia.gov 
 
July 2008