It may vary from state to state...and even within one state. I have NOT looked up the details for Maryland.

This hospital, the nearest one to me, has struggled with its committment to emergency treatment for years. You cannot find on the website any direct statement of whatever actual law it operates under...just 'suggestions' about applying for free or reduced cost care.
I do know they had to restrict emergency obstetric care recently, as they were simply inundated.


Here is a Wash Post article from 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063001871.html

from this sire
"Hospitals are affected too, mostly as poor immigrants without health insurance show up in emergency rooms, accounting for much of the traffic at such places as Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring."