SENATE BILL 414

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Bill B. O'Neill

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978 TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A MOBILE STROKE UNIT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A STROKE EMERGENCY TRAUMA HELP TASK FORCE AND A STROKE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] MOBILE STROKE UNIT--UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER.--The board of regents of the university of New Mexico shall purchase a mobile stroke unit at the university of New Mexico health sciences center specializing in neurological trauma care to serve patients statewide.

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Public Health Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] STROKE EMERGENCY TRAUMA HELP TASK FORCE-- MEETINGS--STROKE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.--

          A. By July 1, 2019, the secretary shall establish a "stroke emergency trauma help task force" that advances best practices and treatment guidelines for stroke diagnosis and care. The governor shall appoint members of the task force as follows:

                (1) one representative of each primary stroke center in the state;

                (2) five emergency medical service providers, including:

                     (a) one emergency medical services provider who is currently employed by a county emergency medical services system located in an urban area; and

                     (b) one emergency medical services provider who is currently employed by a county emergency medical services system located in a rural area;

                (3) one representative of an emergency communications district board; and

                (4) one representative of the department with expertise in stroke diagnosis and treatment.

          B. Meetings of the stroke emergency trauma help task force shall receive no compensation for their service on the task force.

          C. The department shall provide the stroke emergency trauma help task force with:

                (1) teleconference capabilities to allow members to attend task force meetings by teleconference; and

                (2) audio access to task force meetings for the public.

          D. By September 1, 2019, the department shall assist the stroke emergency trauma help task force in providing a progress report and recommendations for stroke diagnosis and treatment best practices to the legislative health and human services committee.

          E. By September 1, 2020, the stroke emergency trauma help task force shall make final recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee on:

                (1) a mandatory statewide data collection registry specific to stroke patients;

                (2) the potential need for state funding in order to offset the costs of stroke-related data collection for hospitals and other health care providers;

                (3) the need for state-sanctioned designations for hospitals to indicate the hospitals' readiness to treat stroke patients on an emergency basis; and

                (4) the need and advisability of destination guidelines or standards related to stroke care for emergency medical services personnel.

          F. The secretary shall establish a stroke education and training program that advances the practice of initial stroke diagnosis through assessment of a patient's balance, eyes, face, arms and speech in a timely manner. The secretary shall adopt and promulgate guidelines for initial stroke diagnosis for the education and training program in accordance with the stroke best practices task force's recommendations."

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 to fund the purchase and operation of a mobile stroke unit at the university of New Mexico health sciences center to provide stroke care statewide. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 to provide for medical staff specializing in neurological trauma care at the university of New Mexico health sciences center. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 to fund the department's stroke education and training program established pursuant to Subsection F of Section 2 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund.

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