Arkansas Blog: Traumatized

A doctor who backs legislation to raise insurance taxes to pay for a statewide trauma system writes a letter to me and others about the failure, so far, to get this legislation passed. The problem has been the money source -- the insurance industry doesn't want a tax increase; a court system where court costs are already overburdened with all kinds of special fees didn't want payment done that way. A fair question is why a session with $900 million in surplus, and a 10 percent general budget increase even after cutting a quarter-of-a-billion in sales taxes and corporate welfare out the wazoo, including for low-wage manufacturing plants, can't provide this money without a tax/fee increase.

Dr. Joseph Jensen's letter and a hospital association note on the jump. (One clarification: though UAMS is not currently accredited as a trauma center, he has previously assured me that it would be if it applied for accreditation.)

It might be worth noting that UAMS seems to have placed a higher priority on its cancer research center expansion than on this project, if success in the search for money is any measure.

LETTER FROM DR. JOSEPH JENSEN

We have a billion dollar surplus, and you are doing a good job of covering how it’s being spent – including on the Governor’s new airplane. You’re also doing a great job on letting us know where the apostrophe should be, the status of extreme gay-hating laws that have no chance of passage anyway, and the details of a new U.S. Marshal’s museum in Ft.
Smith .

We are still the only state in the country without a single trauma center and only one of three states in the country without a statewide trauma system (two, really if you look closely at the details).

The MED takes up the slack in east Arkansas, to the tune of $10 million per year (for which we pay them $1 million). Any surprise that they’re seriously looking at cutting off Arkansas citizens? Next time you’re in West Memphis be sure and try not to have an auto accident.

There are between 200 and 600 unnecessary deaths in Arkansas every year because we don’t have a statewide trauma system. Think about that as you see the news reports of the Arkansans who die from highway accidents, jet-ski and boating accidents, and other injuries this weekend. Some of them probably didn’t have to die.

As respected journalists, you have the opportunity to bring public debate to this as a Senate – House compromise committee is trying to find an agreement to fund a trauma system. You’d think that in a year of a billion dollar surplus we could find a way to fund a life-saving system that’s 3% of that cost. We haven’t even talked about cost benefits by reducing severity of injury and improving rehabilitation.

Senator’s Critcher and Steele, and Rep. Sumpter are trying their best to make this work. Their job would be a lot easier of responsible journalists would let the public know why this is important to anyone who drives or rides in a car.

Unless you think the stuff you’re reporting on now is more important.

Kindest personal regards

Joseph Jensen, M.D.

(from the Arkansas Hospital Association)

Trauma Legislation

House Bill 1575, the statewide trauma system legislation, passed the Senate on Monday with the increase in the automobile insurances premiums as the funding source.

On Tuesday, the House Public Health Committee failed to concur in the Senate amendment, and a motion was made to recommend a conference committee to settle the different funding sources in the House and Senate versions of the bill. A conference committee is a very rare occurrence, but can be used to settle an amendment difference between the House and Senate.

The conference committee members are Representatives Sumpter, Pace, Reep and Thyer and Senators Critcher, Horn, Steele, and Glover. The committee met on Friday afternoon and could not come to an agreement on a funding source. The committee will meet again on Monday morning, and an agreement must be made then or the bill will die.

Comments

"There are between 200 and 600 unnecessary deaths in Arkansas every year because we don't have a statewide trauma system. Think about that as you see the news reports of the Arkansans who die from highway accidents, jet-ski and boating accidents, and other injuries this weekend. Some of them probably didn't have to die." Joseph Jensen, M.D.

No truer words were ever spoken, doc. There are hospital emergency rooms, and then there are Level I trauma centers, a world of difference. Unlike a rural hospital emergency room (or an ER in Little Rock for that matter), a trauma center is required to have general surgeons and anesthesiologists right there on the spot, 24-7.

Also, a trauma center, unlike a regular ER, has prompt availability of neurosurgeons, radiologists, internists, etc. None of this "on call" nonsense where many of these specialists refuse to come in to work a 2 a.m. accident, fire, or shooting.

It is absolutely unacceptable that here in 2007, Arkansas does not have a single Level 1 trauma center. Not only can "responsible journalists" help move legislators and the governor in the right direction, but we bloggers can, too. But we need to jump on this quickly. Looks like the honorables are going to be leaving town in a few short days.

Posted by: durangokid | March 31, 2007 02:19 PM

Well said, durango. Out here on I-40 and here in shootout land, the trauma deaths loom large- is there a Senate bill number or somesuch that Dr. Jensen refers to? Can I call/email/buttonhole my legislator and tell him what exactly he should carry/support ?

Posted by: Atlas999 | March 31, 2007 03:33 PM

Why bash the insurance agents? the original bill was funded by and extra $25 on speeding tickets and $50 on DWIs. whats wrong with making lawbreakers fund the system? nothing.

the senate should have left well enough alone. I usually stick up for Critcher on this blog, but he's the reason that the Senate changed the funding from its original source.

ARK. BLOG: I'm conflicted. I have nothing against this system. But I think piling charge upon charge on speeding tickets isn't the way to fund essential government functions. I think a satisfactory health care system is an essential public function. I think we should budget it in tht fashion, as a continue general revenue obligation. I don't think we should single out a niche payer that is more or less invisible and without voice in the legislature -- be it speeders, or insurance policy holders, or beer drinkers, or wine sippers, etc.

Posted by: TheBusDriver | March 31, 2007 04:06 PM

21 years ago, my wife's and baby daughter's lives were saved a by a trauma system. After major trauma you have ONE HOUR- SIXTY MINUTES to intervene. Surgeons call this the Golden hour. No do overs, no mulligans. The lives lost to trauma tend to be young and with promise, with contributions to make-even taxes to pay over a lifetime. This is not a UAMS "thing", it is a statewide system, that should be funded statewide.

Posted by: Diogenes | March 31, 2007 04:59 PM

The Ledge couldn't make up their mind as to how much money they needed for the trauma center. First it was $25M then $30M, then on Friday it was miraculously down to $15M...and even more miraculously, a premium tax increase would solve all their problems.

Interesting to note that no other state in the country goes after the insurance agent, insurance industry or insurance consumer when looking for funding sources for trauma networks. Every state that I have seen uses a mixture of increased criminal penalties and increased charges on revenue already collected by the state like auto tags.

Also, every state I have seen seems to be closing some of their trauma facilities or dipping back in to state revenue to pay for increasing costs. Do they have any idea at the capitol what kind of undertaking this really is? Seems doubtful, especially with 2 days left in the session.

Posted by: scooter | March 31, 2007 11:03 PM

Tax insurance premiums or
increase fees on tickets....

That is a false choice, and Max
is absolutely right. This is
something that everyone
benefits from and should be
funded by general revenue.

Posted by: The Bold and The Blue | April 1, 2007 11:09 AM

Arkansas Blog

Traumatized

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