STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 52nd Legislature (2009)

SENATE BILL 958	By:	Paddack

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to public health and safety; amending 63 O.S. 2001, Section 1-2530.9, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 404, O.S.L. 2005 (63 O.S. Supp. 2008, Section 1-2530.9), which relates to the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund; modifying authorized expenditures of the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     63 O.S. 2001, Section 1-2530.9, as last amended by Section 1, Chapter 404, O.S.L. 2005 (63 O.S. Supp. 2008, Section 1-2530.9), is amended to read as follows:
Section 1-2530.9  A.  There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Department of Health to be designated the “Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund”.  The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the State Department of Health from monies apportioned thereto for purposes of this section.  All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Department as follows:
1.  Ninety percent (90%) of such monies shall be used to reimburse recognized trauma facilities, licensed ambulance service providers and physicians for uncompensated trauma care expenditures as documented in the statewide emergency medical services and trauma analysis system developed pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-2511 of this title.  In lieu of or in combination with reimbursement for uncompensated care, monies from the fund may also be used to support readiness costs incurred by recognized trauma facilities associated with ensuring a stable trauma care system with availability of twenty-four-hour physician services for the provision of trauma care.  Any monies used for the treatment of Medicaid-eligible patients that are subsequently used to establish federal matching fund requirements shall also be reimbursed to eligible trauma facilities, licensed ambulance service providers and physicians; and
2.  Ten percent (10%) of such monies shall be used by the Department in the furtherance of its powers and duties set forth in the Oklahoma Trauma Systems Improvement and Development Act and the Oklahoma Emergency Response Systems Development Act and may support data collection and analysis related to emergency medical conditions such as stroke and cardiac events.
B.  Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of State Finance for approval and payment.
C.  The State Board of Health shall establish by rule a formula and procedure for the distribution of funds for uncompensated trauma care and/or readiness costs that shall provide for the allocation of funds to hospitals, ambulance service providers and physicians.
D.  Annually, monies accumulated in the fund may be transferred to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, by order of the State Commissioner of Health, to maximize Medicaid reimbursement of trauma care.  The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall use these funds with federal matching funds to reimburse hospitals, ambulance service providers and physicians for trauma care provided to severely injured patients who are participants in Medicaid.
E.  An annual report detailing the disbursements from the fund shall be provided on January 1 of each year to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Chair of each health-related committee of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2009.
SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

52-1-1548	JM	1/15/2009 1:38:31 PM