House Subcommittee Approves Legislation To Provide $46M Increase In Funds For Rural Trauma Centers

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on Tuesday by voice vote unanimously approved a bill that would authorize an additional $46 million between fiscal years 2008 and 2012 in spending for rural medical centers that treat patients during times of national crisis, CongressDaily reports. The spending would be used give the centers the capacity to treat large influxes of patients, improve patient data systems, and increase research and development by public and private groups. In addition, the grant money would be used by states and not-for-profit organizations to create model curriculum for training programs for emergency first responders, medical technicians, nurses, doctors and paramedics. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said that the additional spending "will provide much needed coordination for trauma care in our nation's rural areas." Subcommittee Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said that $30 million has been spent on trauma center improvements since 1990 (Brady, CongressDaily, 3/14).

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