It is absolutely irresponsible and short sighted to cut funding to Emergency Departments in hindsight!  There is absolutely no way the general public can or should know what constitutes an emergency.  They seek help and are given help.  Penalizing the system after the fact is a budgetary move that is a slap in the face for all the “essential workers” and “heroes” that staff the frontlines every day.  Continuing to cut reimbursement for healthcare will continue the death spiral that has already started.  Compensate ED’s across America appropriately, educate patients, create more clinic opportunities so patients can avoid the ED, and incentivize better care of chronic health problems.