(a) The legislature finds that death caused by injury is the leading cause of death for persons one through 44 years of age, and the third overall cause of death for all ages. Effective emergency medical services response and resuscitation systems, medical care systems, and medical facilities reduce the occurrence of unnecessary mortality.
(b) It is estimated that trauma costs more than $63 million a day nationally, which includes lost wages, medical expenses, and indirect costs. Proportionately, this cost to Texas would be more than $4 million a day. Many hospitals provide emergency medical care to patients who are unable to pay for catastrophic injuries directly or through an insurance or entitlement program.
(c) In order to improve the health of the people of the state, it is necessary to improve the quality of emergency and medical care to the people of Texas who are victims of unintentional, life-threatening injuries by encouraging hospitals to provide trauma care and increasing the availability of emergency medical services.