Alabama Administrative Code
Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Chapter 420-2-2 - ALABAMA STATEWIDE TRAUMA SYSTEM
Section 420-2-2-.14 - Statewide Trauma System Fund

Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 420-2-2-.14

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024

(1) The Statewide Trauma Fund has been created by § 22-11D-9, Code of Ala. 1975. Funding allocations received from the Alabama State Legislature, and from gifts or other payments that may be received by the Department for the Fund, are to be distributed according to a methodology established by the Council and adopted by the Board.

(2) The following methodology of distribution and allocation of available funds is established.

(a) Two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) of available funds shall be allocated for administrative costs incurred by the Department's Office of EMS and Trauma and the Alabama Trauma Communication Center.

(b) The remaining available funds shall be distributed as follows:
1. Five percent (5%) shall be equally distributed to the six EMS and trauma regions.

2. Ninety-five percent (95%) shall be distributed to participating trauma centers.
(i) Fifty percent (50%) of this amount shall be distributed to in-state trauma centers based on level of designation (the Level of Care Pool) as follows:
(I) Thirty percent (30%) shall be equally distributed to Level I trauma centers.

(II) Thirty percent (30%) shall be equally distributed to Level II trauma centers.

(III) Forty percent (40%) shall be equally distributed to Level III trauma centers.

(ii) Fifty percent (50%) of this amount shall be distributed to in-state and out-of-state trauma centers based on volume and acuity (the Patient Volume/Acuity Pool). The amount to be distributed to each trauma center shall be calculated utilizing the following table:

Severity Category ISS Score ISS Severity Index
A 1-9 1.02
B 10-15 2.02
C 16-24 3.80
D >24 6.57

Patients who are transferred within the trauma system will be assigned a Severity Category A for the transferring hospital; the receiving hospital will assign a Severity Category according to the patient's ISS score. The specific amount due a trauma center shall be computed as follows:

(I) Assign all cases an ISS severity index and category of A, B, C or D according to the table above.

(II) Calculate the number of cases treated by each trauma center which fall within each ISS Severity Category.

(III) Multiply the total number of ISS Severity Category A cases by the relative value assignment of 1.02 to arrive at the total number of Category A points.

(IV) Multiply the total number of ISS Severity Category B cases by the relative value assignment of 2.02 to arrive at the total number of Category B points.

(V) Multiply the total number of ISS Severity Category C cases by the relative value assignment of 3.80 to arrive at the total number of Category C points.

(VI) Multiply the total number of ISS Severity Category D cases by the relative value assignment of 6.57 to arrive at the total number of Category D points.

(VII) Add the points from Categories A, B, C and D to arrive at a total number of points for each trauma center.

(VIII) Sum the number of points from all categories and all trauma centers to arrive at a total number of points for all trauma centers.

(IX) Take the number of points for each trauma center and multiply that number by the total dollar amount in the Patient Volume/Acuity Pool available for distribution. Take the product of that calculation and divide the resulting number by the total number of points for all trauma centers.

(X) The resulting quotient is the dollar amount to be distributed to that trauma center.

(3) Not less than thirty percent (30%) of the funds received from the Level of Care Pool and the Patient Volume/Acuity Pool by Level I and II trauma centers shall be used to pay on-call stipends to surgical specialties taking trauma calls and to help offset the cost of trauma-related continuing medical education and professional liability insurance.

(a) Surgical specialties eligible for on-call stipends shall include general and trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and facial surgeons (ENT or plastics). Reimbursement may include the portion of time the physician's practice is devoted to trauma care and for taking call in-hospital versus at home.

(b) Emergency medical physicians shall not receive on-call stipends, but may receive funds to help offset the cost of trauma-related continuing medical education and professional liability insurance.

Authors: John Campbell, M.D., and Choona Lang

Statutory Authority: Alabama Legislature, Act 299, Regular Session, 2007 (Code of Ala. 1975, 22-11D-1, et seq.)

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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