Final
Overview of the State's Trauma System
HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE
Votes:
Action Taken:
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10:42 AM -- Overview of the State's Trauma System
Mr. Kline introduced himself as the Executive Director of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs' Association and gave an overview of the state's trauma system. Mr. Kline distributed a handout entitled "Key Messages for the Health Care Task Force" from the Trauma Care Preservation Coalition (Attachment A) and explained that their mission is to address the funding crises in the state's trauma system that was a result of the switch from no-fault automobile insurance. Mr. Kline stated that motor vehicle accidents make up more than half of trauma patients which is why the change from no-fault to tort has had such a big impact. Mr. Kline pointed out that there has been an annual decrease of $100 million since the switch. Senator Keller asked if that money was money that was uncollected, late or no payment. Mr. Kline stated it was the difference between the amount of money brought in that year. He also mentioned that after the switch from no-fault to tort it takes more time to determine who was at fault and so it takes the emergency service providers longer to receive payments from patients. Mr. Kline discussed how the trauma services are given immediately but payments are not received for two years sometimes and he explained the impact this has had on trauma services. Representative Frangas asked if there was anything on the books that makes the insurance companies pay. Mr. Kline said the insured patients have protections to pay but uninsured and under-insured patients do not.
Mr. Kline continued talking about how the unpaid insurance claims are worse for emergency services because they cannot cost shift like hospitals can. Mr. Kline expressed concern that without revenue, the hospitals cannot handle all the patients brought in by the fire departments but the patients need to go somewhere and the longer it takes for a patient to get to the emergency room the more complications they will have and the less likely they will be to survive. Mr. Kline stated that practical long term nonpartisan solutions were needed to bolster the state's trauma system, such as state subsidies, an additional surcharge on moving violations, trauma vouchers, or an additional charge on vehicle registration fees. Mr. Kline discussed problems with TABOR and stated that referendum C and D are important to his association.
11:02 AM
Representative McCluskey asked about the reimbursement levels. Mr. Kline stated that they are able to deal with the time delay in payment and can build that into their system, but the overall uncompensated care is their biggest burden. Senator Keller asked how they handle uninsured patients and how many of those patients use the emergency system for non-emergencies. Mr. Kline stated that uninsured people do use the emergency room since patients know they can always go through the emergency room for care. He explained that the use of emergency services for primary care has increased. Representative Clapp asked for the current numbers from the trauma centers and highly encouraged Mr. Kline to get the data from the Department of Health in order for the legislature to determine what needs to be done. Mr. Kline said he could provide those numbers to her in the afternoon. Mr. Kline concluded.