Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§300d–81 Grants to States

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - TRAUMA CARE › Part Part H— - Trauma Service Availability › § 300d–81

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The federal government gives money to states so the states can make grants that expand access to trauma care. States can award grants to public or nonprofit trauma centers that meet certain rules, to safety‑net trauma centers that meet certain rules, or to hospitals in state‑defined underserved areas that want to start trauma services. Applicants must apply when and how the state asks. States must use at least 40% of their funds for safety‑net trauma centers. Grants can pay for things like doctor pay where there are shortages, help safety‑net centers stay open 24/7, reduce overcrowding, start new trauma services in underserved places, improve teamwork with other hospitals and EMS, build or upgrade facilities (for example helipads), increase surge capacity, speed transfers by ground or air, and improve interstate coordination. A state may spend up to 20% of its money on grant administration. The funds must add to, not replace, state money. If yearly appropriations are under $10,000,000, $20,000,000, or $30,000,000, the Secretary evenly divides the money among progressively larger groups of states with eligible trauma centers; if $30,000,000 or more, the money is divided evenly among all states.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300d–81

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)To promote universal access to trauma care services provided by trauma centers and trauma-related physician specialties, the Secretary shall provide funding to States to enable such States to award grants to eligible entities for the purposes described in this section.

(b)Each State may award grants to eligible entities within the State for the purposes described in subparagraph (d).

(c)(1)To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (b) an entity shall—

(A)be—

(i)a public or nonprofit trauma center or consortium thereof that meets that 11 So in original. Probably should be “the”. requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (5) of section 300d–41(b) of this title;

(ii)a safety net public or nonprofit trauma center that meets the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 300d–41(b) of this title; or

(iii)a hospital in an underserved area (as defined by the State) that seeks to establish new trauma services; and

(B)submit to the State an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the State may require.

(2)A State shall use at least 40 percent of the amount available to the State under this part for a fiscal year to award grants to safety net trauma centers described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii).

(d)The recipient of a grant under subsection (b) shall carry out 1 or more of the following activities consistent with subsection (b):

(1)Providing trauma centers with funding to support physician compensation in trauma-related physician specialties where shortages exist in the region involved, with priority provided to safety net trauma centers described in subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).

(2)Providing for individual safety net trauma center fiscal stability and costs related to having service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with priority provided to safety net trauma centers described in subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii) located in urban, border, and rural areas.

(3)Reducing trauma center overcrowding at specific trauma centers related to throughput of trauma patients.

(4)Establishing new trauma services in underserved areas as defined by the State.

(5)Enhancing collaboration between trauma centers and other hospitals and emergency medical services personnel related to trauma service availability.

(6)Making capital improvements to enhance access and expedite trauma care, including providing helipads and associated safety infrastructure.

(7)Enhancing trauma surge capacity at specific trauma centers.

(8)Ensuring expedient receipt of trauma patients transported by ground or air to the appropriate trauma center.

(9)Enhancing interstate trauma center collaboration.

(e)(1)A State may use not more than 20 percent of the amount available to the State under this part for a fiscal year for administrative costs associated with awarding grants and related costs.

(2)The Secretary may not provide funding to a State under this part unless the State agrees that such funds will be used to supplement and not supplant State funding otherwise available for the activities and costs described in this part.

(f)The following shall apply with respect to grants provided in this part:

(1)If the amount of appropriations for this part in a fiscal year is less than $10,000,000, the Secretary shall divide such funding evenly among only those States that have 1 or more trauma centers eligible for funding under section 300d–41(b)(3)(A) of this title.

(2)If the amount of appropriations in a fiscal year is less than $20,000,000, the Secretary shall divide such funding evenly among only those States that have 1 or more trauma centers eligible for funding under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 300d–41(b)(3) of this title.

(3)If the amount of appropriations for this part in a fiscal year is less than $30,000,000, the Secretary shall divide such funding evenly among only those States that have 1 or more trauma centers eligible for funding under section 300d–41(b)(3) of this title.

(4)If the amount of appropriations for this part in a fiscal year is $30,000,000 or more, the Secretary shall divide such funding evenly among all States.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300d–81

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73