Austin – State Rep. Dianne White Delisi today praised the decision to fully fund Texas' statewide trauma care system for 2006 and increase the funding for nursing home residents.


The budget action to increase this funding was authorized by House Speaker Tom Craddick and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst acting in their capacity as co-chairmen of the Legislative Budget Board. Their decision made available another $27.6 million in trauma care funding for fiscal year 2006, which completely closed the gap between the projected estimated revenues and what had been initially appropriated in the current state budget. Nursing home daily reimbursement rates will also be increased and a nursing home resident's personal needs allowance will go up to $60 a month (from $45).


"The funding decision regarding trauma care will lead directly to lives being saved across the entire state," Delisi said. "The increase in nursing home reimbursement rates and the personal needs allowance will also make a real difference in the lives of many nursing home residents. Both of these items were priorities of mine and I am pleased to see them addressed."


Rep. Delisi thanked Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick for working collaboratively with her on the trauma funding matter since the very beginning of the program. She also noted the ongoing support for the trauma care program shown by both Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Governor Rick Perry since the program's creation in 2003.

"The policy goal I continue to share with Speaker Craddick is ensuring that the trauma fund continues to meet its revenue projections," Delisi stated. "The good news is the revenues dedicated for trauma funding are now coming in at a rate slightly above current budget estimates."


Rep. Delisi notes Speaker Craddick has also directed that the House Appropriations Committee look at how to further improve trauma fund revenue collections as an interim study charge. This should lead to recommendations to enhance the existing program to make it even more effective.

Funding for the trauma system comes from violators of the state's traffic laws through drivers license surcharges and a state traffic fine. The creation of Texas' current trauma care funding system was initiated by Rep. Delisi in 2003. The policy goal was to create a seamless network of trauma care for Texans that covered both urban and rural areas.

"Texas now has in place a national model for funding a statewide trauma care network," Delisi said. "The challenge before all of us now will be to ensure the revenue improvement continues so the funding for future years continues to expand. I look forward to reading the suggestions for further improvement the House Appropriations Committee may propose in their interim study."

In addition to trauma funding and the nursing home increases , the budget action also authorized additional resources for Mental Health State Hospitals and Vocational Rehabilitation Programs.