2SSB 5127 - H AMD to FIN COMM AMD (H3150.1) 546 ADOPTED 4-11-97

By Representative Mulliken

On page 5, beginning on line 10, strike sections 7 and 8, and insert:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The committees on finance and health care of the house of representatives shall conduct a joint interim study on trauma care services funding.

(1) The study shall:

(a) Review how health care providers and facilities determine which patients are classified as trauma care patients;

(b) Examine actual trauma care services information for fiscal year 1997 to determine how the four million six hundred thousand dollars appropriated from the state's general fund for trauma care was spent and whether the appropriation was sufficient to reimburse all eligible trauma care services for treating medically indigent persons who had a trauma index severity score of 16 or higher;

(c) Determine if reimbursement at the Medicaid rate covers, on average, the actual costs of trauma care services for treating a medically indigent person. If reimbursement at the Medicaid rate does not cover actual costs, then the study shall determine by how much the reimbursement at the Medicaid rate fails to cover actual costs;

(d) Review grants, contributions, and other income received by trauma center facilities that are not third party reimbursements.

(e) Compare and contrast financial information for trauma care service providers to determine if the overall financial condition of such providers has worsened, improved, or held constant over the last five years; and

(f) Analyze any other information which assists the committees to better understand the amount of funding needed for trauma care services.

(2) The office of program research shall provide staff support for the study. The department of health, the department of social and health services, and the emergency medical services and trauma care steering committee shall provide information and technical support as needed.

(3) For the purposes of this section "trauma care services" means verified ambulance services, designated trauma services, and related services provided by a physician who is an active member of a trauma service team at a designated facility."

Renumber sections consecutively, correct any internal references accordingly, and correct the title.