HF 1967

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/25/2014 02:09pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing a covered driver assessment; depositing revenues
into a new account in the state government special revenue fund; providing
funding to trauma hospitals and other related services; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 16A; 144; 297I.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [16A.728] TRAUMA HOSPITAL AND EMS ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin A trauma hospital and emergency medical service (EMS) account is created in the
state government special revenue fund. The commissioner shall deposit to the credit of the
account all money made available to the account. Money in the account shall be transferred
annually to the commissioner of health for the purposes specified in section 144.6081.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2014.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [144.6081] LEVEL OF READINESS TRAUMA HOSPITAL AND EMS
INITIATIVES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Distribution. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner, through the state Trauma
Advisory Council established under section 144.608, shall manage and distribute the
annual transfer from the trauma hospital and emergency medical services (EMS) account
under section 16A.728. The annual transfer shall be distributed as provided by this
section, beginning with the 2015 calendar year.
new text end

new text begin (b) Prior to distributing funds under this section, the commissioner may use up to
$....... of each annual transfer from the trauma hospital and EMS account for costs related
to operation of the overall statewide trauma system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Payments to trauma hospitals. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall distribute
75 percent of the annual transfer as annual payments to trauma hospitals located in
Minnesota. Trauma hospitals shall use these payments to maintain a level of readiness
for trauma and emergency medical service (EMS) care, including trauma and EMS
staffing costs, education, equipment, and EMS registry costs. The commissioner shall
distribute payments to trauma hospitals in proportion to their share of trauma patients with
a calculated injury severity score (ISS) of greater than eight, for the calendar year prior
to the calendar year during which the annual payment is made, and calculated using an
established and recognized injury severity score model recommended by the state Trauma
Advisory Council. Trauma patients and the corresponding ISS must be calculated and
submitted by each trauma hospital to the commissioner through the statewide trauma
registry established under section 144.6071.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Air and ground ambulance services. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall distribute
15 percent of the annual transfer as annual payments to emergency ambulance services
licensed under chapter 144E. The transfer must be divided equally between air medical
and ground emergency ambulance services. For each type of ambulance service, the
annual payment must be distributed to ambulance services in proportion to their share
of trauma patients transported with a Glasgow coma scale score of seven or below,
for the calendar year prior to the calendar year for which the annual payment is made.
Trauma patients and their corresponding Glasgow coma scale scores must be reported
electronically by each ambulance service to the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory
Board according to section 144E.123, subdivision 1. The Emergency Medical Services
Regulatory Board must provide these data elements to the commissioner at intervals
necessary to ensure timely distribution of funds.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Trauma coordination and training. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall distribute
five percent of the annual transfer as annual payments to regional trauma advisory councils
(RTACs) recognized by the state Trauma Advisory Council. The commissioner shall
distribute the allocation equally among the eight regional EMS regions.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall distribute five percent of the annual transfer as an annual
payment to the comprehensive advanced life support (CALS) training program to be
used for trauma coordination and training.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2015.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [297I.07] COVERED DRIVER ASSESSMENT; TRAUMA HOSPITAL
AND EMS ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Assessment on policies. new text end

new text begin (a) Each licensed insurer engaged in writing
insurance shall pay a covered driver assessment to the commissioner of commerce equal to
$10 per vehicle for every 12 months of coverage, on each policy issued or renewed during
a calendar year for automobile insurance as defined in section 65B.14, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (b) The covered driver assessment amount collected under this subdivision must
not be considered a premium for any other purpose. The amount of the covered driver
assessment must be stated separately on either a billing or policy declaration or document
containing similar information sent to an insured.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Deposit of revenues. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce shall deposit
revenues from the covered driver assessment into the trauma hospital and EMS account
established under section 16A.728.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2014, and applies to policies
offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.
new text end