RULES

(a) The executive commissioner by rule shall adopt minimum standards and objectives to implement emergency medical services and trauma care systems. The executive commissioner by rule shall provide for the designation of trauma facilities and for triage, transfer, and transportation policies. The executive commissioner shall consider guidelines adopted by the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Emergency Physicians in adopting rules under this section. (b) The rules must provide specific requirements for the care of trauma patients, must ensure that the trauma care is fully coordinated with all hospitals and emergency medical services in the delivery area, and must reflect the geographic areas of the state, considering time and distance. (c) The rules must include: (1) prehospital care management guidelines for triage and transportation of trauma patients; (2) flow patterns of trauma patients and geographic boundaries regarding trauma patients; (3) assurances that trauma facilities will provide quality care to trauma patients referred to the facilities; (4) minimum requirements for resources and equipment needed by a trauma facility to treat trauma patients; (5) standards for the availability and qualifications of the health care personnel, including physicians and surgeons, treating trauma patients within a facility; (6) requirements for data collection, including trauma incidence reporting, system operation, and patient outcome; (7) requirements for periodic performance evaluation of the system and its components; and (8) assurances that designated trauma facilities will not refuse to accept the transfer of a trauma patient from another facility solely because of the person's inability to pay for services or because of the person's age, sex, race, religion, or national origin. (d) Repealed by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 966 (S.B. 2133), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.