The commission shall adjust a hospital’s schedule of rates to ensure that services which are provided to emergency room patients who do not require those services on an emergency basis are reimbursed at a rate appropriate for primary care, according to regulations adopted by the commissioner. Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the right of the commission to increase a hospital’s schedule of rates for required emergency services, except that the increase shall not be solely to offset a reduction in hospital revenue as a result of reduced rates for primary care provided in the emergency room.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a hospital to refuse to provide emergency room services to a patient who does not require the services on an emergency basis.

L.1991,c.187,s.16; per s.86 as amended by 1992, c.160, s.27, expired December 31, 1992.