HOUSE BILL 33

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

INTRODUCED BY

Conrad D. James and Howie Morales

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT TO PROVIDE FOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CERTIFICATION OF HOSPITALS AS PRIMARY STROKE CENTERS, COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTERS OR ACUTE STROKE CAPABLE CENTERS; PROVIDING FOR RULEMAKING; PROVIDING FOR COORDINATED STROKE CARE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN PRIMARY STROKE CENTERS AND ACUTE STROKE CAPABLE CENTERS.

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] PRIMARY STROKE CENTERS--COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTERS--ACUTE STROKE CAPABLE CENTERS--DEPARTMENT CERTIFICATION--RULEMAKING.--

          A. The secretary shall adopt rules to establish processes by which the department shall certify hospitals as primary stroke centers. In accordance with department rules, the department shall certify any acute care hospital as a primary stroke center if that hospital:

                (1) has been accredited by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations or the American heart association as a primary stroke center; and

                (2) has applied for certification by the department as a primary stroke center.

          B. The secretary may adopt rules for certification of any hospital as a comprehensive stroke center if that hospital:

                (1) has been accredited as a comprehensive stroke center by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations or the American heart association; and

                (2) has applied for certification by the department as a comprehensive stroke center.

          C. The secretary may adopt rules for certification of any hospital as an acute stroke capable center if that hospital:

                (1) has been accredited as an acute stroke capable center by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations or the American heart association; and

                (2) has applied for certification by the department as an acute stroke capable center.

          D. The secretary shall by rule establish procedures for the suspension and revocation, after notice and a hearing, of a hospital's certification as a primary stroke center, a comprehensive stroke center or an acute stroke capable center when the department finds that the hospital is not in compliance with department rules or the provisions of this section.

          E. The secretary shall adopt rules to assist and encourage primary stroke centers to enter into coordinated stroke care agreements with acute stroke capable centers throughout the state to provide appropriate access to care for acute stroke patients. The rules shall provide that coordinated stroke care agreements:

                (1) be in writing;

                (2) include transfer agreements for the transport and acceptance of stroke patients seen by the acute stroke capable center for stroke treatment therapies that the acute stroke capable center is not capable of providing. The agreements shall include provisions for transfer and transport of stroke patients from the acute stroke capable center to the primary stroke center when necessary; and

                (3) establish communication standards and protocols between the primary stroke centers and the acute stroke capable centers."

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