Bill to raise money for trauma care centers passes House, Senate

The Sun Herald, 4/14/8

A bill to use portions of fines for speeding, driving under the influence and license plate sales, among others, to fund trauma care hospitals has passed the Legislature.

House Bill 1405 cleared the House of Representatives and the Senate today and the bill is headed to Gov. Haley Barbour’s desk to be signed into law.

Mississippi has one Level 1 trauma care center, which is in Jackson, but there are no burn centers. Thte bill allows out-of-state hospitals that Mississippians use to be eligible for funds. South Mississippi sends it most severe trauma cases to the Level 1 trauma center at the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile, which would be eligible for the funds.