WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1810

Specifies that the department of health and senior services shall not deny trauma center status to a hospital based on its distance from another trauma center

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pattie Mansur

HB 1810 prohibits denying trauma, STEMI, or stroke center designation solely because of a hospital’s distance from another center, aligning criteria with national standards.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
#healthandseniorservices #departmentof #hospitals
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1810

Purpose and intent

  • HB 1810 aims to modify Missouri law to prevent the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) from denying trauma center designation to a hospital based solely on the hospital’s distance from another trauma center.
  • The bill focuses on trauma center designations (as well as STEMI and stroke centers) and seeks to ensure that geographic proximity or distance between centers cannot be the sole basis for denial of designation, aligning designation decisions more closely with established clinical criteria and national standards.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 190.241 changes:
    • The DHSS may designate hospitals as adult, pediatric, or adult-and-pediatric trauma centers after an application and site review, using criteria in rules adopted under existing statute.
    • The department shall not deny a qualified hospital designation as a level I, II, or III trauma center “based solely on the distance or mileage between trauma centers.”
    • The department may designate STEMI and stroke centers under similar processes, following national guidelines (e.g., ACC/AHA/ASA) and allowing verification by national bodies to streamline designation.
    • Site reviews: Mandatory review at least once every three years for trauma, STEMI, and stroke centers (with exceptions for centers designated under subsection 4). Reviews may be conducted on-site or via other reasonable means, and coordination with licensure inspections is encouraged.
    • Compliance and enforcement: The department may deny, place on probation, suspend, or revoke a designation for substantial noncompliance. Centers on probation must show compliance within specified timeframes (typically 12 months, up to 18 months by settlement).
    • Subsection 4 allows hospitals to obtain designation based on a state-level standard that mirrors a similar national designation, without adhering to all standard local criteria; such centers must remain certified/verified and can be removed if certification is suspended or revoked.
    • Designated centers must submit data to state or national registries, with protections for patient and provider confidentiality and alignment to national data standards.
    • Data use restrictions: Data collected must be used to evaluate and improve care, and elements must align with national registries to avoid duplicative reporting.
    • Education and credentialing: The department cannot impose additional education requirements beyond those established by ABEM or AOBEM for emergency physicians; education requirements for other providers should align with standards from national bodies.
    • Fees: The department may establish fees to offset the costs of trauma, STEMI, and stroke center surveys.
    • Public representation: Hospitals may not claim to be a designated center unless DHSS designation exists.
    • Appeals: Affected individuals may seek determinations from the Administrative Hearing Commission if aggrieved by DHSS actions related to designation.

Who and what is affected

  • Hospitals seeking or holding trauma center (adult, pediatric, or adult-and-pediatric), STEMI center, or stroke center designation.
  • DHSS, through its trauma/STEMI/stroke center designation program, site reviews, compliance enforcement, and data collection.
  • National certifying/verification bodies and the national data registries into which centers may report data.
  • Emergency medical services systems and hospital staff (physicians, nurses, and other providers) who are subject to designation standards and related education requirements (in line with national bodies).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Site reviews occur at least once every three years for most designated centers, with coordination possible with hospital licensure inspections.
  • Probation and enforcement timelines: centers placed on probation must demonstrate compliance within 12 months (extendable to 18 months by settlement).
  • Subsection 4 provisions offer an alternative designation pathway based on state-level alignment with national standards, bypassing some local criteria, subject to ongoing certification/verification.
  • Data reporting: Centers may use state or national registries; DHSS must access national registry data when available, without duplicative reporting.
  • Appeals: Administrative Hearing Commission provides a remedy process for aggrieved parties.

Summary assessment

HB 1810 clarifies and strengthens the designations process for trauma, STEMI, and stroke centers in Missouri, with a specific provision ensuring that designation decisions cannot be denied solely due to hospital distance from other centers. It emphasizes alignment with national guidelines, regular site reviews, data reporting standards, and due process for designation decisions. The bill could broaden designation eligibility and potentially encourage consolidation or distribution of trauma capabilities without penalizing hospitals for geographic proximity, while preserving oversight and quality improvement mechanisms.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.