who need some attention and probably have no where else to get it.

I think it's brilliant. Where else is an uninsured person going to be seen within 30 minutes for an upfront fee of $9?

I'd be pissed if I needed attention and had to wait for people with reservations. The only triage in an ER should have to do with the urgency of the need, not the financial wherewithal of the supplicant.

A doctor's office can ask for their fees right up front. They can ask for your insurance before agreeing to see you. They can point blank turn you away.

And emergency room can do none of that. Under federal law, they must provide a screening exam and stabilizing treatment before they ask you about insurance or means to pay.

Because more and more patients don't have access to doctor's office because of their inability to pay, emergency rooms are completely overwhelmed in most areas. Because of this, patients who appear to have non-emergent conditions have to wait much, much longer than others.

This permits patients with non-critical conditions to be seen, examined and stabilized rapidly.

As more and more people become uninsured, more and more will use the ED for non-emergency treatment.

This is probably just an attempt to do some triage. If you have time to sign up and pay your $9 online, then you probably don't have a critical emergency.

And to be seen within 30 minutes in an emergency room? Probably the best $9 you could ever spend.

There's a plan, I heard.

I have seen grown ups with colds in there...Cmon. people have we lost the ability to treat ourselves for even the mildest of ailments. Alot of these people I suspect have no insurance so they use the ER because a regular doctors office won't see them.

And what appears to be a cold from across the room, could be something much more serious or could have been going on for months.

I would hate to blame the victims here.