McClellan Statement On Supreme Court EMTALA Decision

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court formally released its decision in Moyle v. United States:

“The Supreme Court’s dismissal of this case is a relief for patients in Idaho, but falls short of what Americans deserve: an outright rejection of attacks on EMTALA. The conservative Justices on the Court failed to affirm patients’ right to comprehensive emergency medical care. We must remain vigilant for future attempts to undermine health care access.

“This decision comes just days after the second anniversary of the Court’s decision to overturn Roe, stripping away patients’ constitutional right to an abortion. We must remain focused on safeguarding reproductive health care nationwide. For millions of Americans across the country, access to emergency abortions remains in jeopardy.

“As a proud member of the House Pro-Choice Caucus and the Democratic Women’s Caucus, I will continue working with my colleagues to restore Roe, protect access to the full scope of reproductive health care services, and fight back against extreme attacks on reproductive freedom.” 

Background: The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals to provide all necessary stabilizing treatments to patients who present to their emergency rooms. In March 2024, McClellan joined 257 congressional Democrats in an amicus brief in support of the district court decision requiring Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion care when it is necessary as an emergency medical treatment.