December 10, 1999

TRAUMA CENTERS RECEIVE SHARE OF TRAFFIC FINES

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has distributed $3.9 million to Illinois hospitals with state-designated trauma care centers to assist with the cost of providing care to severely injured patients, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, has announced.

The funds are generated through a $5 surcharge imposed in 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 is deposited in the Trauma Center Fund and the Department annually awards the receipts to hospital trauma centers in the geographic regions where the traffic violations occurred. The amount each hospital receives from the regional share is based on the number of trauma patients the hospital cares for.

The Illinois Department of Public Aid collects a like 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 $15.2 million to trauma centers.

Editor’s Note: See following listing of hospitals and the amount of state assistance received.

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
The following are the hospitals and the amount of funding each received:

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments