HOUSE BILL 167

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

W. Ken Martinez

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STROKE RESPONSE AND TREATMENT AND CREATION OF A STATEWIDE STROKE REGISTRY; PROVIDING FOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTING ON COLLECTED STROKE DATA; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public Health Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] STROKE RESPONSE AND TREATMENT PLAN--STROKE REGISTRY--STROKE RESPONSE--STROKE TREATMENT--REPORTING.--

          A. The department of health shall establish and implement a plan for a statewide system of stroke response and treatment that sets forth guidelines for achieving continuous quality improvement in the quality of stroke care statewide.

          B. The department of health shall establish and maintain a statewide stroke registry. The registry shall be a database that compiles information and statistics on stroke care that align stroke care in the state with the stroke consensus metrics that the American heart association, the American stroke association, the federal centers for disease control and prevention and the joint commission have developed. The data platform for the stroke registry shall use a nationally recognized data set platform with confidentiality standards that are no less secure than those set forth in nationally recognized stroke care industry standards. As much as possible, the department shall coordinate with national voluntary health organizations involved in stroke quality improvement to avoid redundancy in establishing the stroke registry. 

          C. The following entities shall report data to the department of health on the treatment of state residents who have confirmed cases of stroke in a manner consistent with nationally recognized stroke care guidelines:

                (1) primary stroke centers;

                (2) acute stroke capable hospitals; and

                (3) emergency medical service agencies.

          D. The department of health shall:

                (1) encourage the sharing of information and stroke data among health care providers on ways to improve the quality of care of stroke patients in the state;

                (2) facilitate the communication and analysis of health information and stroke data among the health care professionals providing care for individuals with stroke;

                (3) require the application of evidence-based treatment guidelines regarding the transition of patients to community-based follow-up care in hospital outpatient, physician office and ambulatory clinic settings for ongoing care after hospital discharge following acute treatment for stroke; and

                (4) establish a stroke data oversight process and implement a plan for achieving continuous quality improvement in care provided under the statewide system for stroke response and treatment. The plan shall:

                     (a) analyze data on stroke response and treatment generated by the stroke registry;

                     (b) identify potential interventions to improve stroke care in specific geographic areas of the state; and

                     (c) provide recommendations to the department of health and the legislature for the improvement of stroke care and delivery in the state.

          E. By June 1, 2013 and by June 1 every year thereafter, the department of health shall provide a summary report of the stroke data it collects pursuant to this section. The department of health shall report all data in the aggregate. The report shall show progress made statewide toward improving the quality of care and outcomes for patients with stroke. The department shall present the summary report to:

                (1) the public via a publicly accessible web site that the department maintains;

                (2) the governor;

                (3) the president pro tempore of the senate; and

                (4) the speaker of the house of representatives.

          F. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to require disclosure of any information in violation of state or federal privacy laws."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Seventy thousand dollars ($70,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2013 to fund implementation for the department's plan for stroke response and treatment and the establishment and maintenance of a statewide stroke registry. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2013 shall revert to the general fund.

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