Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund (Trauma Fund)
The Maryland Health Care Commission administers the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund.
About the Trauma Fund
The Trauma Fund covers the costs of medical care provided to trauma patients at Maryland’s designated trauma centers and specialty centers. The fund provides reimbursement to centers for uncompensated care, services to Medicaid-enrolled patients, trauma-related on-call and standby expenses, and grants to eligible trauma centers. The fund is supported through a portion of the Motor Vehicle Administration’s Vehicle Registration annual and biannual renewal fees and administered by the Maryland Health Care Commission, in partnership with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) and the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC).
There are 9 Trauma Centers, 3 specialty Trauma Centers, and 1 out of State pediatric trauma center which serves a significant portion of Maryland residents that receive reimbursement or grants through the fund. The MIEMSS Trauma System Dashboard provides insight and comprehensive trauma statistics on the care provided in Maryland’s trauma centers.
The Fund reimburses physicians to subsidize documented, uncompensated costs incurred by trauma care physicians and non-physician health care professionals. The Fund also reimburses physicians for follow-up care provided after the initial hospitalization at 100% of the Medicare payment rate for a service.
In order for the care to be eligible for reimbursement the patient must be on the trauma registry, the treatment must be directly related to the initial injury, and must be performed in a trauma center or a trauma center-affiliated rehabilitation hospital setting. Additionally, to be reimbursed, a practice must confirm that the patient has no health insurance, and the practice must apply its routine collection policies before applying for uncompensated care payments.
Trauma centers and providers should refer to the MHCC Uncompensated Care Claims Training Manual for guidance on preparing and submitting uncompensated care claims.
Claim Submission
The MHCC Trauma Fund Annual Reconciliation Report and CMS 1500 form should be used to submit uncompensated care claims.
All uncompensated care claims should be submitted electronically for the most expedient processing.
- EDI: 62777 (preferred submission method)
Claims may also be submitted via fax or mail, although this may result in a delay in claims processing.
- Fax: 1-414-755-4410; Attn: MHCC Claims
- Email: claims@scasmg.com
- Mail: SCAS Management Group
P.O Box 70491
Milwaukee, WI 53207-0491
Attn: MHCC Claims
Hospitals reimburse independent physicians for being on-call or standby via stipends or as part of salary if the physician is employed by the health system. A physician on-call is available and able to reach the hospital within 30 minutes of notification, whereas a physician on stand-by is at the hospital ready to respond. These reimbursements compensate physicians for foregoing work in a non-hospital setting where reimbursement may be higher and uncompensated care losses may lower.
The Trauma Fund reimburses all trauma centers for 60% of the reasonable cost equivalent hourly rate for these physicians that are on call.
- Level III Trauma Centers are eligible for up to 35,040 physician stand-by hours per year.
- Level II Trauma Centers are eligible for up to 26,280 hours.
- Level I Trauma Centers are eligible for up to 4,380 hours,
- Specialty Trauma Centers are eligible for up to 2,190 hours; and
- Level I Pediatric Trauma Centers may receive stand-by reimbursement up to $900,000 each.
On-Call Reimbursement should be submitted via MHCC’s On-Call Costs Reimbursement Web Portal.
Users can refer to the Maximum On-Call Reimbursement Rates and Hours for January - December 2025 and the Stand by Application for additional details.
MHCC, in collaboration with HSCRC and MIEMSS, awards grants to eligible Level I, II, and III trauma centers. Specialty centers and out-of-state facilities are not eligible for funding.
Trauma Fund grants support improvements in the delivery of trauma care across Maryland. Funding may be used to purchase equipment essential for treating trauma patients, both within designated trauma centers and in community-based settings, including mobile units and other tools that expand access to care. Grant funds may also be allocated to support the training and credentialing of healthcare professionals involved in trauma care, with an emphasis on person-centered approaches. In addition, funding can be used for educational and training programs aimed at community members and trauma survivors.
Grants are issued on an annual basis and follow guidelines outlined in COMAR 10.25.10.10: Trauma Equipment Grants. Grants utilize remaining available funds in the Trauma Fund after all Uncompensated Care Claims, On-Call reimbursements, and Standby disbursements have been reimbursed. Per regulation, the Fund may disburse the residual balance, less 15 percent of the revenue collected during the fiscal year.
Contact Us
Please direct questions, comments, or concerns to the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund at mhcc.trauma@maryland.gov, or by telephone at (410) 764-3780.