Bill Summaries: H%20827 DESIGNATE PRIMARY STROKE CENTERS.

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  • Summary date: Apr 11 2013 - View Summary

    Identical to S 456, filed 3/26/13.

    Enacts new GS 131E-78.5 to prohibit a hospital from advertising or holding itself out as a primary stroke center unless the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has designated it as such. Requires DHHS to designate a hospital as a primary stroke center if DHHS is satisfied that it is certified as a primary stroke center by the Joint Commission or some other nationally recognized accrediting body requiring conformance to best practices for stroke care. Requires hospitals designated as primary stroke centers to coordinate appropriate care with other licensed hospitals through a formal written agreement and includes issues to be addressed in the agreement. Requires DHHS to keep a list of the primary stroke centers, post the list on the DHHS website, and provide the list to emergency medical service providers annually. Allows DHHS to suspend or revoke a designation as a stroke center, and hospitals may contest any adverse actions by DHHS on the primary stroke center designation. Provides that the statute is not to be construed to (1) establish a standard of medical practice for stroke patients or (2) restrict the authority of any hospital to provide services authorized under its hospital license. Effective October 1, 2013.