September 7, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois hospitals with state-designated trauma centers have received $4.3 million from the Illinois Department of Public Health to assist with the cost of providing care to severely injured patients, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, today announced.

The funds come from a $5 surcharge imposed since 1993 on moving violation fines that amount to $55 or more and a $30 surcharge on convictions or orders of supervision for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs that was added in 1994. The money collected is deposited in the Trauma Center Fund and the Department annually awards the receipts to hospital trauma centers in the geographic region where the traffic violations occurred. The amount each hospital receives from the regional share is based on the number of trauma patients to whom the hospital provides care.

The Illinois Department of Public Aid collects an equal amount from the special fund and allocates money to trauma centers based on the number of Medicaid trauma patients for whom the hospital cares.

To be eligible for the funds, a hospital must be designated a Level I or Level II trauma center by the Department of Public Health. Since 1993, the Department of Public Health has distributed $19.5 million to trauma centers.