01/29/2016

House Committee Accepts Substitute Bill to Create State Trauma Board

Committee will vote next week on whether to send legislation to the full House

Legislation to create a State Trauma Board continues to advance in the House Health and Aging Committee. Introduced by Reps. Cheryl Grossman (R – Grove City) and Steve Huffman (R – Tipp City), House Bill 261 would also mandate that facilities providing trauma care be designated by the proposed Board as Level I, II, or III trauma centers.

During the bill’s fourth committee hearing on January 27, Rep. Huffman offered a substitute bill which was accepted by the House Health and Aging Committee. The substitute bill contains a number of modifications, including adjusting requirements for designation as a Level III or IV trauma center, changing physician admission restrictions, and expressly exempting urgent care centers from establishing trauma protocols.

Also during the January 27 hearing, committee Chairwoman Anne Gonzales (R – Westerville) agreed to delay a vote on the bill until next week at the request of the sponsor.

When bill sponsors were crafting the original legislation, Ohio ACEP was actively involved in interested party meetings. Ohio ACEP’s suggestions were incorporated into the legislation, including additional representation of emergency medicine on the proposed Trauma Board.

Now that the Chapter’s concerns and comments have been addressed by Reps. Grossman and Huffman, Ohio ACEP has announced its neutral position on the legislation.

Stay tuned for updates on House Bill 216’s progress!