(a) Standards.--The foundation shall accredit Level III trauma centers by adopting, at a minimum, current guidelines defined by the American College of Surgeons for Level III trauma centers. The accreditation process shall be conducted in compliance with section 8107 (relating to Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation).

(b) Additional requirements.--In addition to the Level III standards established by the foundation under subsection (a), a hospital must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for Level III accreditation:

(1) Provide comprehensive emergency services.

(2) Total on an annual basis at least 4,000 inpatient admissions from its emergency department.

(3) Be located in a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth class county. The requirement under this paragraph shall not apply to accredited Level III trauma centers as of the effective date of this subsection.

(4) Be located more than 25 miles of travel distance established by roadways from a Level I, Level II or Level III trauma center.

(c) Submission of application required.--To be eligible for accreditation as a Level III trauma center and to qualify for funds under section 8107.3 (relating to funding), a hospital must comply with subsection (b) to submit an application to the foundation.

(d) Review of application.--Within 120 days of the receipt of an application, the foundation shall complete its review of the application to determine compliance with the criteria under subsection (b). No later than 240 days from the completion of a site survey, the foundation shall grant or deny a certificate to a hospital seeking to be accredited as a Level III trauma center under subsections (a) and (b).

(e) Additional accreditation criteria.--For a hospital that submits an application for Level I, Level II or Level III accreditation after the effective date of this subsection, the hospital shall be located more than 25 miles of travel distance established by roadways from a Level I, Level II or Level III trauma center. If a trauma center is accredited before the effective date of this subsection, and the accreditation is denied or voluntarily withdrawn, notwithstanding the reason, the trauma center shall be subject to the travel distance requirement under this section in the same manner as a trauma center that has never been accredited if the hospital reapplies for accreditation.

(f) Applicability.--The travel distance requirements under this section shall not apply in the following situations:

(1) For a trauma center accredited before the effective date of this subsection, the trauma center may move or relocate the trauma center within 10 miles by roadway from the original location.

(2) In a merger or acquisition of a trauma center.

(3) For a hospital seeking accreditation under subsection (e), the travel distance requirement shall not apply if the hospital can demonstrate that the other trauma centers in the catchment area have a volume of excess cases above the volumes required for reaccreditation under section 8107(a)(1) that is, for a period of three preceding years, twice the amount required for reaccreditation under section 8107(a)(1).

(g) Volume waiver process.--The foundation shall develop a process to allow a hospital seeking accreditation under subsection (e) and a waiver of the travel distance requirement under subsection (f)(3) to have patient volume data reviewed to determine eligibility for the waiver prior to the pursuit of trauma center accreditation.

(July 2, 2019, P.L.359, No.54, eff. imd.)

2019 Amendment. Act 54 added section 8107.1. See section 5 of Act 54 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to continuation of prior law.

Cross References. Section 8107.1 is referred to in section 8107.3 of this title.