[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8150-H8152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IMPROVING TRAUMA SYSTEMS AND EMERGENCY CARE ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 8163) to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to
trauma care, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8163
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Trauma Systems and
Emergency Care Act''.
SEC. 2. TRAUMA CARE REAUTHORIZATION.
(a) In General.--Section 1201 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 300d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting ``analyze,'' after ``compile,''; and
(ii) by inserting ``and medically underserved areas''
before the semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (4), by adding ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(C) by striking paragraph (5); and
(D) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5);
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination.--The
Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for
Preparedness and Response, shall support the efforts of
States and consortia of States to coordinate and improve
emergency medical services and trauma care during a public
health emergency declared by the Secretary pursuant to
section 319 or a major disaster or emergency declared by the
President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act. Such support may include--
``(1) developing, issuing, and updating guidance, as
appropriate, to support the coordinated medical triage and
evacuation to appropriate medical institutions based on
patient medical need, taking into account regionalized
systems of care;
``(2) disseminating, as appropriate, information on
evidence-based or evidence-informed trauma care practices,
taking into consideration emergency medical services and
trauma care systems, including such practices identified
through activities conducted under subsection (a) and which
may include the identification and dissemination of
performance metrics, as applicable and appropriate; and
``(3) other activities, as appropriate, to optimize a
coordinated and flexible approach to the emergency response
and medical surge capacity of hospitals, other health care
facilities, critical care, and emergency medical systems.''.
(b) Grants To Improve Trauma Care in Rural Areas.--Section
1202 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-3) is
amended--
(1) by amending the section heading to read as follows:
``grants to improve trauma care in rural areas'';
(2) by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to
eligible entities for the purpose of carrying out research
and demonstration projects to support the improvement of
emergency medical services and trauma care in rural areas
through the development of innovative uses of technology,
training and education, transportation of seriously injured
patients for the purposes of receiving such emergency medical
services, access to prehospital care, evaluation of protocols
for the purposes of improvement of outcomes and dissemination
of any related best practices, activities to facilitate
clinical research, as applicable and appropriate, and
increasing communication and coordination with applicable
State or Tribal trauma systems.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an entity shall be a
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public or private entity that provides trauma care in a rural
area.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that will
provide services under the grant in any rural area identified
by a State under section 1214(d)(1).''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Reports.--An entity that receives a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretary such reports as the
Secretary may require to inform administration of the program
under this section.''.
(c) Pilot Grants for Trauma Centers.--Section 1204 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-6) is amended--
(1) by amending the section heading to read as follows:
``pilot grants for trauma centers'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``not fewer than 4'' and inserting ``10'';
(B) by striking ``that design, implement, and evaluate''
and inserting ``to design, implement, and evaluate new or
existing'';
(C) by striking ``emergency care'' and inserting
``emergency medical''; and
(D) by inserting ``, and improve access to trauma care
within such systems'' before the period;
(3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraphs (A) and
(B) and inserting the following:
``(A) a State or consortia of States;
``(B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act);
``(C) a consortium of level I, II, or III trauma centers
designated by applicable State or local agencies within an
applicable State or region, and, as applicable, other
emergency services providers; or
``(D) a consortium or partnership of nonprofit Indian
Health Service, Indian Tribal, and urban Indian trauma
centers.'';
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``that proposes a pilot project''; and
(ii) by striking ``an emergency medical and trauma system
that--'' and inserting ``a new or existing emergency medical
and trauma system. Such eligible entity shall use amounts
awarded under this subsection to carry out 2 or more of the
following activities:'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``coordinates'' and inserting
``Strengthening coordination and communication''; and
(ii) by striking ``an approach to emergency medical and
trauma system access throughout the region, including 9-1-1
Public Safety Answering Points and emergency medical
dispatch;'' and inserting ``approaches to improve situational
awareness and emergency medical and trauma system access.'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``includes'' and inserting ``Providing'';
(ii) by inserting ``support patient movement to'' after
``region to''; and
(iii) by striking the semicolon and inserting a period;
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``allows for'' and inserting ``Improving'';
and
(ii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period;
(E) in paragraph (4), by striking ``includes a consistent''
and inserting ``Supporting a consistent''; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Establishing, implementing, and disseminating, or
utilizing existing, as applicable, evidence-based or
evidence-informed practices across facilities within such
emergency medical and trauma system to improve health
outcomes, including such practices related to management of
injuries, and the ability of such facilities to surge.
``(6) Conducting activities to facilitate clinical
research, as applicable and appropriate.'';
(5) in subsection (d)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``the
proposed'' and inserting ``the applicable emergency medical
and trauma system'';
(ii) in clause (i), by inserting ``or Tribal entity'' after
``equivalent State office''; and
(iii) in clause (vi), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) for eligible entities described in subparagraph (C)
or (D) of subsection (b)(1), a description of, and evidence
of, coordination with the applicable State Office of
Emergency Medical Services (or equivalent State Office) or
applicable such office for a Tribe or Tribal organization;
and'';
(6) in subsection (f), by striking ``population in a
medically underserved area'' and inserting ``medically
underserved population'';
(7) in subsection (g)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``described in'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the system
characteristics that contribute to'' and inserting
``opportunities for improvement, including recommendations
for how to improve'';
(C) by striking paragraph (4);
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively;
(E) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking ``;
and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(F) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) any evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies
developed or utilized pursuant to subsection (c)(5).''; and
(8) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
``(h) Dissemination of Findings.--Not later than 1 year
after the completion of the final project under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives a report describing the information contained
in each report submitted pursuant to subsection (g) and any
additional actions planned by the Secretary related to
regionalized emergency care and trauma systems.''.
(d) Program Funding.--Section 1232(a) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d-32(a)) is amended by striking
``2010 through 2014'' and inserting ``2023 through 2027''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 8163.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8163, the Improving
Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act, sponsored by Representative
O'Halleran of Arizona. This bill will improve access to trauma services
throughout the country and better coordinate emergency care when
patients need it the very most.
Traumatic injury is a major public health issue claiming more than
270,000 lives every year, and accounting for billions of dollars in
healthcare spending throughout the Nation.
Trauma affects every one of our communities, but about 46 million
Americans, most of whom live in rural areas, do not live within one
hour of a Level I or Level II trauma center. This is often referred to
as the ``golden hour'' following traumatic injury. Prompt medical
treatment during this hour produces the highest likelihood of
preventing a patient's death.
H.R. 8163 reauthorizes grants that will enhance access to trauma
care, improve coordination among trauma systems, and provide resources
for rural access to trauma services. The grants included in the bill
are intended to help trauma systems develop best practices, not only
for their own patients, but also to facilitate the dissemination of
those best practices to similar trauma systems throughout the Nation to
improve overall care.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce
Committee for their tremendous work to reach bipartisan agreement on
this bill. I also commend Representative O'Halleran for his tireless
advocacy on this issue for all rural communities.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8163 is a strong bill that will help people in
every community. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 8163, the
Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act of 2022, which is
sponsored by my Energy and Commerce Committee colleague, Representative
Tom O'Halleran.
This legislation renews a program in the Public Health Service Act
that authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award
grants to improve local trauma care readiness and emergency medical
services.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC,
trauma is a leading cause of death for children and adults under the
age of 44. Ensuring access to trauma care requires many crucial
components, and the window of opportunity for a chance at survival is
narrow for a severely injured patient; a prompt response is truly a
matter of life and death.
However, in many rural parts of the United States, accident victims
and others suffering life-threatening injuries may not be able to
receive needed trauma care within an hour, or even many hours,
following an incident.
H.R. 8163 will help ensure seriously injured patients have the best
possible chance for survival by supporting States to coordinate and
improve regional emergency medical services and
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trauma care, and by supporting trauma centers to improve their
emergency system situational awareness and access.
The bill also authorizes grants for carrying out research and
demonstration projects to support the improvement of emergency medical
services and trauma care in rural areas.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Pallone and Chair Eshoo for working with
us to make sure the State match is maintained.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of 8163, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge support. This is bipartisan.
This is really important to rural areas, in particular.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8163, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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