An Oklahoma City hospital has created an additional fee for patients who seek treatment in the emergency room for non-life-threatening ailments and injuries.

OU Medical Center officials announced Tuesday that, starting this week, adult patients assessed in the hospital’s ER who don’t have emergency medical needs will be charged — either their copay or $200 if they are uninsured — if they choose to still receive care through the ER after that assessment.

“If they choose to continue to get care in our emergency department with a nonurgent situation, then they do indeed have that option,” said Kris Wallace, chief operating officer for OU Medical Center.

“At that point in time, we would ask them to either present their copay or pay a facility fee for nonurgent care in an emergency care setting.”

Hospital officials say the policy change is a result of overcrowding in the emergency room.

- OU Medical Center launches extra fee for nonemergency care in ER | News OK
I really don't have an opinion on this, but was just curious what others thought.