Bill > HB1023

This bill modifies the existing law regarding hospital trauma center designations by specifying that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services cannot deny a hospital's trauma center status solely based on its proximity to other existing trauma centers. The bill ensures that hospitals can be designated as Level I, II, or III trauma centers if they meet the necessary criteria, regardless of the distance between trauma centers. The legislation maintains the department's existing requirements for hospital applications, which include site reviews (which can be conducted on-site, remotely, or through a combination of methods) and adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines, such as those from the American College of Surgeons. The bill preserves the department's ability to designate trauma centers through national verifying bodies and continues to require periodic site reviews and data submission, while also protecting patient and healthcare professional privacy in data collection and analysis. This change aims to potentially improve access to trauma care by preventing geographic restrictions on trauma center designations.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1023&year=2025&code=R