 EMTALA was enacted by the US Congress in 1986 to curtail "patient dumping", a practice whereby patients were refused medical care for economic or other non-medical reasons.Since its enactment, ED visits have substantially increased, with one study showing a rise in visits of 26% (which is more than double the increase in population over the same period of time).While more individuals are receiving care, a lack of funding and ED overcrowding may be affecting quality.