§300d–41 Grants for certain trauma centers

Summary

Creates three grant programs that give money to qualified public, nonprofit Indian Health Service, Indian tribal, and urban Indian trauma centers. The money can help pay large amounts of unpaid care, support core trauma center work (like stabilizing and transferring patients, training and outreach, coordinating with local systems, paying essential staff and fixed costs, and physician expenses), and provide emergency relief so trauma services stay available. Most grants go only to centers that take part in a trauma system that follows section 300d–13, unless the State has no trauma system. Large uncompensated-care grants go only to centers that meet one of three sets of emergency-department patient thresholds: A — at least 40% charity or self-pay and at least 50% when combined with Medicaid; B — at least 35% charity or self-pay and at least 50% combined; C — at least 20% charity or self-pay and at least 30% combined. Centers that qualify for a Low Income Pool or Safety Net Care Pool under section 1115 may also get these grants. All centers must be verified by the American College of Surgeons or an equivalent state or local agency, submit a plan to keep treating patients regardless of ability to pay, and have policies like a sliding fee scale and fair billing practices.