ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 385

(II) 4. THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS SERVED BY TRAUMA
PHYSICIANS IN TRAUMA CENTERS;

(III) 5. THE NUMBER OF MARYLAND RESIDENTS SERVED BY
TRAUMA PHYSICIANS IN TRAUMA CENTERS; AND                                               

(IV) 6. THE EXTENT TO WHICH PHYSICIAN UNCOMPENSATED
GARB TRAUMA-RELATED COSTS ARE OTHERWISE SUBSIDIZED BY HOSPITALS, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER SOURCES.; AND

(II) INCLUDE AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE HOSPITALS TO
CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE TRAUMA-RELATED COSTS NOT OTHERWISE INCLUDED IN
HOSPITAL RATES.

(4) THE METHODOLOGY DEVELOPED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS
SUBSECTION SHALL USE THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS TO DETERMINE THE
AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT MADE TO TRAUMA PHYSICIANS AND TRAUMA
CENTERS FROM THE FUND:

(I)      1. THE COST INCURRED BY A LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTER TO
MAINTAIN TRAUMA PHYSICIANS ON-CALL SHALL BE REIMBURSED:

A.       AT A RATE OF UP TO 20% OF THE REASONABLE COST
EQUIVALENTS HOURLY RATE FOR THE SPECIALTY, INFLATED TO THE CURRENT YEAR
BY THE PHYSICIAN COMPENSATION COMPONENT OF THE MEDICARE ECONOMIC
INDEX AS DESIGNATED BY THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES,
MULTIPLIED BY 8,760 HOURS; AND

B.      FOR THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF TRAUMA PHYSICIANS
REQUIRED TO BE ON-CALL, AS SPECIFIED BY THE MARYLAND INSTITUTE FOR
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS IN ITS CRITERIA FOR LEVEL II TRAUMA
CENTERS; AND

2. THE COST INCURRED BY A LEVEL III TRAUMA CENTER TO
MAINTAIN TRAUMA PHYSICIANS ON-CALL SHALL BE REIMBURSED:

A.      AT A RATE OF UP TO 30% OF THE REASONABLE COST
EQUIVALENTS HOURLY RATE FOR THE SPECIALTY, INFLATED TO THE CURRENT YEAR
BY THE PHYSICIAN COMPENSATION COMPONENT OF THE MEDICARE ECONOMIC
INDEX AS DESIGNATED BY THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES,
MULTIPLIED BY 8,760 HOURS; AND

B.      FOR THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF TRAUMA PHYSICIANS
REQUIRED TO BE ON-CALL, AS SPECIFIED BY THE MARYLAND INSTITUTE FOR
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS IN ITS CRITERIA FOR LEVEL III TRAUMA
CENTERS;

(II)     THE COST OF UNDERCOMPENSATED CARE INCURRED BY A
TRAUMA PHYSICIAN IN PROVIDING TRAUMA CARE TO ENROLLEES OF THE
MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHO ARE TRAUMA PATIENTS ON THE
STATE TRAUMA REGISTRY SHALL BE REIMBURSED AT A RATE OF UP TO 100% OF THE

- 2779 -