HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2196

BYRepresentatives Cantwell, Brooks, Braddock and Anderson

Creating a driver's license surcharge for trauma care.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, Sommers, Sprenkle and Wolfe.

House Staff:Bill Hagens (786-7131)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE MARCH 8, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Presently there is not a statewide trauma care system in the state of Washington. The existing system has been described as fragmented and varied between the east and the west and between urban and rural areas.

A significant problem exists in rural areas where trauma care is often dependent upon volunteer pre-hospital care providers and upon the commitment of hospital personnel to be available to treat major trauma victims.

The care provided to a trauma victim is sometimes delayed by long response times of the first care provider.  The wide spectrum of terrain and the dependence upon volunteers burdens the system.  Once a victim is stabilized in the field the transport time to a local facility may be in excess of one and a half hours.  Also, the resources and expertise at the local facility may not be sophisticated enough to care for a severely injured patient.

Further, it is estimated that a high percentage of trauma cases are the result of motor vehicle accidents.

SUMMARY:

The bill declares that highway related accidents comprise a majority of the trauma cases.

The Department of Health, if one is created, is authorized to disburse funds from the trauma care system trust account.

Funds are made available for the statewide trauma care system.

The date the system is intended to be operational is changed from 1992 to 1991.

Until June 30, 1992, a $4 surcharge is added to every driver's license renewal.  These funds would be deposits in the trust fund.

One hundred and fifty thousand dollars is appropriated from the Public Safety and Education Account to complete and implement the plan for the state-wide trauma system.

Fiscal Note:      Not Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Robb Menaul, Washington State Hospital Commission and Steve Hubbard, Trauma Advisory Committee.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    It is imperative that the trauma care study be given proper funding to continue the assessment program which began July 1, 1988.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.