64J-2.019. Funding for Verified Trauma Centers

(1) For purposes of Sections 318.14, 318.18 and 395.4036, F.S., and this rule, in addition to those terms defined by Rule 64J-2.006, F.A.C. and elsewhere in these rules, the following definitions also apply:

(a) “Attestation” – means a letter on hospital letterhead, signed under oath consistent with Section 92.50, F.S., by the person with direct or delegated authority to make such a statement as required in accordance with this rule.

(b) “Verified trauma center” means a Level I, Level II or Pediatric Trauma Center not operating as a provisional trauma center.

(c) “International Classification Injury Severity Score” (ICISS) means an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-based multiplicative prediction model that calculates the likelihood of survival of an injured patient based on the assumption that all injuries contribute to the overall severity. The department will calculate the ICISS score for each injured patient in the most recent complete year of the Agency for Health Care Administration's Hospital Discharge Data Set based upon the multiplicative product of all Survival Risk Ratios (SRR) associated with each ICD code listed in the patient’s record.

(d) “Severe Injury Patient” – means a verified trauma patient with computed ICISS Ps≤.85.

(e) “Year” – means the most recent complete calendar year for which trauma caseload volume is available from the Agency for Health Care Administration.

(f) As used in this rule, “trauma caseload volume” means all patients treated at trauma centers that are identified as “trauma” in the “Priority of Admission” field in the Agency for Health Care Administration’s Hospital Inpatient Data File.

(2) Funds governed under this rule will be distributed to verified trauma centers in the quarter following deposit into the department’s trust funds.

(a) All distribution will be consistent with subsection (2), or upon resolution of all relevant administrative and judicial challenges, whichever is later.

(b) Funds collected under Section 318.14(5), F.S., governed under this rule will be distributed to the verified trauma centers as follows:

[(.5 x funds)/Current total number of verified trauma centers)] + [(.5 x funds) x (Trauma caseload volume for the verified trauma center for the year/The sum of trauma caseload volume for all verified trauma centers during the year)].

(c) Funds collected under Sections 318.18(15), 316.0083(1)(b)3.a. and 316.0083(1)(b)3.b., F.S., governed under this rule and deposited in accordance with Section 395.4036(1), F.S., will be distributed as follows:

1. To each verified trauma center in a region receiving a local funding contribution as of December 31 of the previous year: (.2 x funds) x (Trauma caseload volume for the verified trauma center for the year/The sum of trauma caseload volume for the year for all verified trauma centers receiving funding under subparagraph (2)(c)1., of this rule).

2. To each verified trauma center: (.4 x funds) x (Trauma caseload volume of the verified trauma center during the year/The sum of trauma caseload volume for all verified trauma centers during the year).

3. To each verified trauma center: (.4 x funds) x (The total number of severe injury patients served by the verified trauma center for the year/The total number of all severe injury patients served by all verified trauma centers for the year).

(d) Funds collected under Sections 318.18(5)(c) and (20), F.S., governed under this rule will be distributed as follows.

1. To each Level II trauma center that provides an attestation certifying that the hospital is governed by an elected board of directors as of December 31, 2008:

(.30 x funds).

2. To each verified trauma center: (.35 x funds) x (Trauma caseload volume of the verified trauma center during the year/The sum of trauma caseload volume for all verified trauma centers during the year).

3. To each verified trauma center: (.35 x funds) x (The total number of severe injury patients served by the verified trauma center for the year. The total number of all severe injury patients served by all verified trauma centers for the year).

(3) Hospitals that are not subject to audit pursuant to Section 215.97, F.S., and operate a verified trauma center that receives proceeds under Section 395.4036, F.S., must annually submit to the department an attestation stating the proceeds received by the hospital were used in compliance with Section 395.4036(3)(a), F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 395.4036 FS. Law Implemented 395.4036 FS. History–New 4-25-06, Amended 1-9-07, Formerly 64E-2.040, Amended 10-22-09, 12-22-10, 12-21-15, 3-4-20.