The Emergency Trauma Fund (ETF) is a trust funded by a group of corporations concerned with the dwindling availability of resources for trauma centers. ETF is managed by MercyCare, a public benefit organization. For the last sixteen years, MercyCare’s sole mission has been to provide for and direct medical care for uninsured trauma patients. ETF is designed to facilitate and coordinate a multidisciplinary approach for a timely financial response in allowing trauma centers another means of securing reimbursement for uncompensated services. Our goal is to identify and qualify trauma centers burdened by a high volume of these types of cases. This provision will not fund all uncompensated care provided in trauma centers, it will however, give needed relief.
As you are painfully aware, there is no shortage of demand for EMS/Trauma systems support with some states reporting total reductions of nearly 58% in available funds. Statistics indicate that a full one-third of all trauma related deaths, where the patient was initially treated in non-trauma facility, may have been prevented if a system of effective reimbursement was in place. This is particularly evident when one looks at the highways of America. Motor vehicle collisions are the number one cause of injury/trauma related deaths in the nation and the second leading cause of nonfatal injuries (Rice and McKenvie). Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death and trauma to persons 1-34 years of age and are also responsible for the majority of new cases of quadriplegia and paraplegia each year (National Commission for injury Prevention and Control).
Since trauma centers can no longer depend on state and federal monies to support their programs, ETF has the potential of being a viable source of funding. Reimbursement rates through ETF are based on the hospitals’ and trauma centers’ high volume of disproportional funding. ETF is now accepting applications for the calendar year. Immediate funding is available for qualified facilities. Please click on the following link to apply: Emergency Trauma Fund Application.
