Phil Ammann
Several hospitals filed legal challenges with the Division of Administrative Hearings Tuesday that claim the state overstepped its legal authority in proposing new rules for trauma centers throughout Florida.
LobbyTools reports that Broward, UF Health Jacksonville, and the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County – operators of the Jackson Health System – are arguing against the proposed new rules published by the Department of Health last month for trauma centers allowed in 19 different areas.
For several years, the issue has been highly controversial in the hospital industry.
According to LobbyTools, the hospital objections to the proposed rule include a possible reduction in the number of allowed trauma centers in their respective regions. UF Health Jacksonville also object to a proposed increase in the number of trauma centers in its five-county area.
In 2014, an administrative law judge upheld a Department rule in the trauma system, which came after three years of legal and legislative fights, much of which related to newly opened trauma centers in Pasco, Manatee and Marion counties.
