Specifies that the department of health and senior services shall not deny trauma center status to a hospital based on its distance from another trauma center

HB 1023 prevents the Department of Health and Senior Services from denying a hospital trauma center status solely based on its distance from another trauma center. This directly affects hospitals seeking Level I, II, or III trauma center designations who would otherwise face geographic barriers. The bill requires the department to grant designation if a hospital meets clinical criteria (including national verification or site review), while maintaining other standards like clinical evidence-based guidelines. It does not change requirements for STEMI or stroke centers, which have separate provisions.