Trauma Center Funding

Item 286 #1h

Language
Page 245, line 1, strike "$24,774,923" and insert "$32,314,431".
Page 245, line 1, strike "$24,774,923" and insert "$33,161,049".
Page 245, after line 52, insert:
"G.  Out of this appropriation, $7,539,508 the first year and $8,386,126 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Virginia Trauma Fund to recognize uncompensated care losses, including readiness costs and clinical services, incurred by providing care to uninsured patients by Virginia hospitals with trauma centers.  The Virginia Department of Health, in consultation with the Trauma System Oversight and Management Committee, shall review the criteria used to distribute funding to the trauma centers and make refinements as necessary to encourage existing trauma centers to upgrade their trauma designation.  The Department shall report on the use of those funds in improving Virginia's trauma system to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by December 1 of each year."

Explanation
(This amendment provides additional funding to Virginia's 14 trauma centers to offset uncompensated care losses attributable to treating uninsured patients, inadequate reimbursement from public payors and the need to maintain operations in a state of readiness to treat trauma patients any time of the day and night. The Virginia Department of Health currently distributes funding to the trauma centers through the Trauma Center Fund. The Trauma Center Fund was established for the purpose of defraying the costs of providing emergency medical care to victims of automobile accidents attributable to alcohol or drug use. It is comprised of moneys paid into it by (i) those who are convicted of two or more DUI-related offenses within 10 years ($50 fee), and (ii) those applying for reinstatement of suspended or revoked driver's licenses ($40 fee). Fees collected for this purpose are estimated to total $4.2 million in FY 2006. Language requires the department to review the criteria used in distributing money in the fund and to make changes as necessary to encourage trauma centers to upgrade their trauma designation. Further, the department is required to report on the use of funds to improve the trauma system in Virginia.)