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ACS Advocacy and Health Policy Staff Interim Director Assistant Director, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Improvement Programs Manager, State Affairs General Information |
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| The Honorable Ralph Regula Chairman Appropriations Subcommittee on L-HHS 2358 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 |
The Honorable David Obey Ranking Member Appropriations Subcommittee on L-HHS 1016 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 |
| The Honorable Arlen Specter Chairman Appropriations Subcommittee on L-HHS 184 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
The Honorable Tom Harkin Ranking Member Appropriations Subcommittee on L-HHS 123 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 |
Dear Senator/Representative:
The undersigned organizations would like to express our strong support for continued funding for Title XII of the Public Health Service Act – specifically those provisions established under the Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act which authorizes grants to states to plan, implement, and develop statewide trauma care systems. We are requesting that the Subcommittee provide continued funding for this program for fiscal year (FY) 2006.
Injury is the leading cause of death for Americans from age 1 through 44. In addition to potential terrorist threats, the U.S. has also recently experienced a number of natural disasters: tornados and hurricanes, mudslides, and a train derailment resulting in a deadly chemical spill. The nation's trauma and emergency medical systems are designed to respond quickly and efficiently to get seriously injured individuals to the appropriate trauma center hospital within the "golden hour"–the time period when medical intervention is most effective in saving lives and saving function. Achieving this requires constant attention to maintaining and coordinating organized systems of trauma care in every community in every state. In addition, continued funding for trauma care systems will complement the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security by assuring all states the needed resources to develop trauma care system plans and to implement these plans. Trauma systems are an integral component of our Nation's public health infrastructure and our ability to respond to emergencies in our communities.
Over the last several years, this program has been funded at approximately $3.5 million. Despite this funding, half the states in the country are still without a statewide trauma care system. Clearly, we can do better in our efforts to respond to a number of goals put forth by the Institute of Medicine in 1999, particularly that Congress "support a greater national commitment to, and support of, trauma care systems at the federal, state, and local levels."
We are aware of the difficult budget realities of the coming year, but respectfully urge that you support $3.5 million for FY 2006 for Title XII programs promoting statewide trauma care systems. Your continued leadership in recognizing the importance of trauma care in saving lives and the need to ensure that these systems are available to all Americans is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics
American Osteopathic Association
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Trauma Society
Association of American Medical Colleges
Coalition for American Trauma Care
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma
Emergency Nurses Association
National Association of State EMS Directors
Report Language Requested for FY 2006:
Trauma Care
The Committee provides $3,500,000 for trauma/emergency medical services. The fiscal year 2005 comparable level was $3,449,000 and the administration did not request funds for this program for fiscal year 2006. This crucial program provides grants to states to support the development and enhancement of the basic infrastructure of trauma systems. It is intended to improve the Nation's overall trauma care systems, which are constantly activated to respond to a wide range of natural and man-made disasters.
Revised April 21, 2005
ACS Views on Legislative, Regulatory, and Other Issues
