Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) Rehab Requirements
EMSTR Reporting Requirements
What are Long-term Acute Care (LTAC) or rehabilitation facilities required to report?
LTACs and rehabilitation facilities must report all traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries (SCIs) to the EMS and Trauma Registries (EMSTR).
LTAC Resources
What are the reportable data elements?
For TBIs and SCIs, all required fields are listed in the data dictionary in the file format described in the data dictionary.
Hospital TBI/SCI Data Dictionary (2025)
How does a LTAC or Rehabilitation facility send data?
All TBI and SCI data should be sent electronically. The appropriate method is to establish an account with EMSTR and use the online system for submitting data.
How often does a LTAC or Rehabilitation facility send data?
Submit data within 90 days from the incident date or date of the patients discharge (where applicable). EMSTR recommends LTACs, rehabilitation facilities, and authorized business associates submit data monthly.
If a LTAC or rehabilitation facility just started submitting data, should they send records from previous months?
Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 103, Rule 103.1-103.8 requires LTACs and rehabilitation facilities to submit all data. The amount and quality of data sent will affect data reports generated by EMSTR.
May a LTAC or rehabilitation facility submit data through a business associate, e.g., regional advisory council (RAC), billing agency, etc.?
Yes, LTACs and rehabilitation facilities are allowed to submit through a business associate. However, the individual LTAC or rehabilitation facility is responsible for data acceptance into the EMSTR. LTACs and rehabilitation facilities must have a signed business associate agreement (BAA) on file with EMSTR before EMSTR will accept records from a third-party associate.
NOTE: EMSTR will not accept BAAs with an effective date over 5 years old as the system needs to verify and track organization and vendor changes.
This is a sample BAA only. Each 3rd party/billing company should have their own BAA forms to provide customers. BAAs must include the effective date and be signed and dated by both parties.
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