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Trauma Center Legislation Heading To House Floor

The Florida Channel

Legislation making it easier to set up new trauma centers is moving in the Florida House. The measure removing a statewide cap passed its final committee.

Bill sponsor Republican Representative Jay Trumbull said lifting the cap will reduce the number of lawsuits existing trauma centers file when new centers apply for that status.

Credit The Florida Channel

“Every time we try to open up another one or give another one provisional status, that somebody files suit against us and doesn’t allow it to happen and stifles it," he said.

The legislation also removes the requirement that the Florida Department of Health set standards for trauma centers and do compliance checks. But critics argue the bill will lead to lower quality of health care.

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Sarah Mueller is the first recipient of the WFSU Media Capitol Reporting Fellowship. She’ll be covering the 2017 Florida legislative session and recently earned her master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Illinois Springfield. Sarah was part of the Illinois Statehouse press corps as an intern for NPR Illinois in 2016. When not working, she enjoys playing her yellow lab, watching documentaries and reading memoirs.
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