A fee for non-urgent emergency visits
- Kind
- Policy and health systems
Prompt
The emergency departments in a region are so crowded that the average wait is six hours. Health officials propose charging a $25 fee to anyone whose visit a nurse classifies as non-urgent, such as a minor cut or a mild cold, at a time when a walk-in clinic was open nearby. Supporters say similar fees elsewhere reduced unnecessary visits by about 10%, which shortened waits for people who were seriously ill. Critics say that people without medical training cannot reliably tell whether their problem is serious, and that people with little money may stay home when they should not. Should the region introduce the fee? Discuss the arguments on both sides.
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After you practice: what this question tests and how to approach it
What this question tests
- Critical thinking
- Health systems and advocacy
- Ethical reasoning
How to approach this question
This MMI station tests whether you can weigh shorter emergency department waits for the seriously ill against the risk that a fee keeps poorer people home when they need care. Present both sides fully, as the prompt asks: the supporters' evidence of a 10% drop in visits, and the critics' point that people without medical training can't reliably judge urgency. Say what you'd want to know, such as who decides a visit was non-urgent, whether low-income patients would be exempt, and whether walk-in clinics are truly reachable. Consider alternatives that reduce crowding without charging patients. Reach a clear position and say which group your choice protects and which bears the risk. When a follow-up proposes a safeguard, test whether it closes the gap for the people most at risk or only narrows it.
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