HB517 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Hospitals and emergency medical services, statewide trauma system and council, council amended, coordination of pre-hospital and hospital care, regulated by Health Department and other systems and other health services for other illnesses, Secs. 22-11D-1 to 22-11D-9, inclusive, am'd; Sec. 22-11D-10 added

Summary

HB517 expands Alabama's statewide trauma system to cover other health illnesses and creates funds to support care coordination and data collection.

What This Bill Does

It expands the statewide trauma registry to include other health illnesses such as stroke and clarifies designation and coordination of trauma centers and other health care centers. It creates the Statewide Trauma and Health System Advisory Council and regional trauma advisory councils to develop standards, oversee designations, and guide regional planning, while enabling centralized dispatch and data collection with confidentiality protections. It establishes funding mechanisms—the Statewide Trauma System Fund and the Statewide Health System Fund—to finance development, operation, and enhancements, with funding distribution guided by the council and board, and it sets an effective date a few months after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Hospitals and health care centers: may be designated as trauma centers or health care centers, must report data to registries, and could have designations reviewed or revoked under standards set by the board.
• Emergency medical services and regional planners: participate in centralized dispatch, regional advisory councils, data reporting, and funding decisions for regional and statewide care coordination.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 22-11D-1 through 22-11D-9 and adds Section 22-11D-10 to expand the registry and system of care to include other health illnesses beyond trauma.
• Creates the Statewide Trauma and Health System Advisory Council and Regional Trauma Advisory Councils with specified composition, duties, meeting rules, and funding for member expenses.
• Authorizes the board to designate trauma care regions and establish rules for trauma center and health care center verification, levels, interfacility transfers, central dispatch, and quality assurance.
• Requires designated facilities to report data to a statewide trauma registry (and other registries) with confidentiality protections; data elements defined by rule.
• Establishes the Statewide Trauma System Fund to finance the trauma system, including funding sources, distribution methods, and criteria based on trauma care levels and patient flow.
• Adds Section 22-11D-10 creating the Statewide Health System Fund for financing, administering, and enhancing the statewide health system with similar distribution rules as the trauma fund.
• Affirms patient rights to choose providers and clarifies hospitals can be designated as trauma centers or other health care centers under the new framework.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month following governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health