Bill Text: GA HB307 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission; burn centers and patients; provide

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-07-01 - Effective Date [HB307 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB307-Introduced.html

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11 LC 33 4035

House Bill 307

By: Representative Harbin of the 118th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission, so as to provide for burn centers and burn patients as part of the trauma network; to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission, is amended in Code Section 31-11-100, relating to definitions, as follows:

"31-11-100.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) 'Burn center' means a facility that has been designated by the Department of Community Health as a burn center and that admits at least 300 patients annually with the burn specific principal diagnosis codes as published by the International Classification of Diseases.

(2) 'Trauma burn patient' means a patient admitted to a burn center with a burn specific principal diagnosis code as published by the International Classification of Diseases who has at least one of the following injuries or complications based on criteria developed by the American Burn Association:

(A) Partial-thickness burns over at least 10 percent of the total body surface area;

(B) Burns that involve the face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, or major joints;

(C) Third-degree burns in any age group;

(D) Chemical burns;

(E) An inhalation injury;

(F) A burn injury and preexisting medical disorder that could complicate management, prolong recovery, or affect mortality;

(G) Burns and concomitant trauma, such as fractures, in which the burn injury poses the greatest risk of morbidity or mortality; or

(H) Burn injury patients who require special social, emotional, or rehabilitative intervention.

(1)(3) 'Trauma center' means a facility designated by the Department of Community Health as a Level I, II, III, or IV trauma center or a burn center.

(2)(4) 'Trauma patient' means a patient who is on the State Trauma Registry or the National Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons or who is a trauma burn patient.

(3)(5) 'Trauma service codes' means the ICDA-9-CM International Classification of Diseases discharge codes designated as trauma service codes by the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma.

(4)(6) 'Uncompensated' means care provided by a designated trauma center, emergency medical services provider, or physician to a trauma patient as defined by the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission who:

(A) Has no medical insurance, including federal Medicare Part B coverage;

(B) Is not eligible for medical assistance coverage;

(C) Has no medical coverage for trauma care through workers' compensation, automobile insurance, or any other third party, including any settlement or judgment resulting from such coverage; and

(D) Has not paid for the trauma care provided by the trauma provider after documented attempts by the trauma care services provider to collect payment."

SECTION 2.

Said article is further amended by revising paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) Code Section 31-11-102, relating to duties and responsibilities of the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission, as follows:

"(2) For the first two fiscal years in which funds are appropriated to the commission for distribution, to distribute such funds in the following areas with the priority for distribution to be set by majority vote of the commission:

(A) Physician uncompensated trauma care services provided in designated trauma centers;

(B) Emergency medical service uncompensated trauma care services provided to patients transported to designated trauma centers;

(C) Uncompensated trauma care services of designated trauma centers;

(D) Trauma care readiness costs for designated or certified trauma care service providers; and

(E) Trauma care service start-up costs for providers seeking a trauma care designation or certification.

The commission shall adopt a formula that prioritizes the distribution of state appropriated funds that may be implemented during the third state fiscal year in which funds are appropriated to the commission for distribution. Such formula shall be evaluated and modified, if needed, every two years thereafter;

(3) To develop, implement, administer, and maintain a system to compensate designated trauma centers for a portion of their cost of readiness through a semiannual distribution from the Georgia Trauma Trust Fund in a standardized amount determined by the commission. The standardized amounts shall be determined according to designation its designated level or status as a burn center and shall be capped at that specific amount. Initially, such standardized amount shall be based upon a three-year average of annual trauma cases, annual amount of uncompensated trauma care services administered, and a three-year annual average cost of readiness. Such criteria may be changed by a majority vote of the commission. Total annual distributions for trauma center and emergency medical service readiness shall be capped at an amount set by the commission. However, the standards developed by the commission for readiness shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Criteria assuring the trauma fund is a payor of last resort;

(B) Criteria assuring that all other resources must be exhausted before the trauma funds are allocated; and

(C) Criteria assuring that trauma funds must be used to meet a verified need that assists the trauma center to maintain a trauma center designation;

(4) To develop, implement, administer, and maintain a system to provide additional designated trauma center compensation to cover trauma center costs not associated with readiness based upon an application and review based process. These distributions shall be capped and limited to semiannual appropriations received by the commission. Designated trauma Trauma centers shall submit an application for trauma funds reimbursement semiannually. The application process developed by the commission for such costs shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(A) Criteria assuring that the trauma fund is a payor of last resort;

(B) Criteria assuring that trauma funds shall be used for reimbursement for services provided to designated trauma patients;

(C) Criteria assuring that trauma funds shall be used for reimbursement for trauma service codes;

(D) Criteria assuring that trauma funds used for reimbursement for trauma care costs shall be on a fee schedule or grant basis; provided, however, that no reimbursement shall exceed the average rate reimbursed for similar services under the State Health Benefit Plan; and

(E) Criteria that require the trauma center to submit a semiannual report documenting and verifying the use of such funds;"

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.