Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Ortiz y Pino

DATE TYPED 01/28/05 HB

SHORT TITLE New Mexico Stroke Care System

SB 227

ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$105.0

Recurring

GF

Relates to SB 213

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 227 appropriates $105 thousand from the general fund to the DOH for fiscal year

2006 to develop a system of stroke care in New Mexico. SB 227 specifically acknowledges the

appropriation be used for:

•

Establishing stroke centers in hospitals statewide.

•

Creating stroke prevention, including health and environmental factors; and treatment

protocols.

•

Establish a stroke registry to collect, compile and evaluate data.

•

Developing a stroke advisory committee.

•

Implement a public education campaign to help recognize the warning signs of stroke.

Significant Issues

A stroke is a brain injury that occurs when the brain's blood supply is interrupted. Without oxy-

gen and nutrients from blood, brain tissue starts to die rapidly, resulting in a sudden loss of func-

tion. A stroke may also occur if a blood vessel breaks and bleeds into or around the brain, this is

Senate Bill 227 -- Page 2

called a hemorrhagic stroke. Modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure, (high) choles-

terol levels, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, diabetes and atrial fibrilla-

tion.

The DOH and HPC report:

•

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in New Mexico.

•

Approximately 50% of stroke sufferers die before they reach a hospital. 20% die within the

first few days.

•

Often, stroke victims arrive at the hospital too late to receive treatment that could lead to full

recovery,

and many become needlessly disabled. There is a three-hour window in which

treatment is most effective.

•

An estimated 4.5 million Americans and their families live with the disabling effects of

stroke.

The New Mexico Selected Health Statistics Annual Report, in 2002 stated:

•

4.9% of all deaths in New Mexico were due to stroke. The total number of deaths from stroke

was 687 (2002).

•

Stroke ranks as the 5

th

leading cause of death for New Mexicans.

•

In 2002 36% of deaths from stroke were males and 64% were females.

•

Among Hispanics, the 2002-2003 aggregate death rate from stroke was 1.3 times higher for

ages 35-54, and 1.2 times higher for ages 65-74.

Native Americans, in addition to Hispanics, are disproportionately affected by stroke when com-

pared to the US rates for the same populations.

The DOH reports data collected from a stroke registry would help determine the level of care and

treatment patients are receiving. Registries often help researchers identify the burden of disease,

related health disparities and prevention strategies from the data collected, compiled and evalu-

ated. Stroke registries also measure and improve hospital delivery of emergency care for stroke

victims in order to reduce death and disabilities from stroke.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The DOH report SB 227 would support strategic plan in Program Area l: Prevention and Disease

Control – Public Health Division; Objective 6: Prevent and control chronic disease.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $105 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall

revert to the general fund. The appropriation was not part of the executive budget recommenda-

tion submitted in 2004 and reviewed by the LFC.

The NM Stroke Task Force recommendations included $105,000 - $41,000, which would be

one-time funding and $64,000, which would be recurring.

Senate Bill 227 -- Page 3

The DOH report in 2002, the estimated hospital charges in New Mexico for stroke victims were

$65.5 million. There are also additional direct care costs (EMS, providers, nursing homes, medi-

cations and home health care), and indirect costs (loss of wages for survivor and/or caregivers,

changes in family structure) to consider.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Currently DOH states they do not have a stroke program and lack staff and program support for

management of an ongoing stroke program.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to SB 213, Stroke Registry Computer Software, which appropriates $4,000 for computer

and software, for a stroke registry to capture data collected by NM hospitals statewide.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

SB 227 relates to recommendations made by the Stroke Task Force, created as a result of SJM

31, passed by the 2003 New Mexico Legislative Session. SJM 31 asked the DOH to examine

stroke prevention and treatment in New Mexico. DOH partnered with the American Heart Asso-

ciation/American Stroke Association to conduct this study. The task force recommended the de-

velopment of a comprehensive stroke care system to better prepare hospitals and emergency

medical systems to meet the challenge of treating stroke patients promptly.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

The HPC says further prevention, treatment and education measures to identify stroke as a seri-

ous health issue for New Mexicans will remain unaddressed.

AHO/lg