HOUSE HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 33

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

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.

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. In accordance with department rules, the department shall certify any acute care hospital as a primary stroke center, comprehensive stroke center or acute stroke capable center if that hospital has been accredited as a primary stroke center, comprehensive stroke center or acute stroke capable center by the joint commission or another nationally recognized organization that provides certification for primary stroke enters, comprehensive stroke centers or acute stroke capable centers. The department shall post information regarding certification on the department's web site. If a hospital loses any national certification as a primary stroke center, comprehensive stroke center or acute stroke capable center, the secretary shall also remove that hospital's certification.

          B. The secretary may adopt rules to assist and encourage primary stroke centers to enter into coordinated stroke care agreements with other health care facilities throughout the state to provide appropriate access to care for acute stroke patients."

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