A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STROKE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE JUSTUS‑WARREN HEART DISEASE AND STROKE PREVENTION TASK FORCE.
Whereas, the General Assembly directed the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force to establish a Stroke Advisory Council to advise the Task Force regarding the development of a statewide system of stroke care; and
Whereas, monitoring the level and quality of care for stroke patients is an essential component of any system of care in this State; and
Whereas, several stroke care monitoring and quality improvement tools such as the American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines – Stroke and the North Carolina Collaborative Stroke Registry are available to North Carolina hospitals; and
Whereas, employing either of these tools can help improve a hospital's level and quality of care for stroke patients; and
Whereas, North Carolina is one of only four states funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to operate a stroke registry within the Paul Coverdell National Stroke Registry initiative; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Collaborative Stroke Registry has received commendations from the CDC for stroke care performance measures and the sustained improvement in quality that has been achieved by participating NC registry hospitals; and
Whereas, timely and appropriate stroke treatment is essential to improving stroke patient outcomes; and
Whereas, the NC Office of Emergency Medical Service (NCOEMS) Stroke Toolkit will enhance EMS capacity for timely and appropriate stroke care; and
Whereas, it is critical to engage community groups in high need areas to assist in disseminating and reinforcing awareness messages and materials; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly supports the recommendations of the Stroke Advisory Council, as approved by the Justus‑Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force. To this end, certain of the Stroke Advisory Council's Preliminary Findings and Recommendations for a NC System of Stroke Care, January 2007, shall be carried out as follows:
(1)	The Justus‑Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force shall work with health care providers across the State to establish a system of regionally distributed and locally determined stroke care networks for the State. 
(2)	The Stroke Advisory Council shall include in its comprehensive plan for 2008 a process for identifying and disseminating information about primary stroke centers certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or other nationally recognized accrediting body in order to assist in the configuration and operation of regional systems of stroke care.
SECTION 2.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to match existing federal funds for the NC Collaborative Stroke Registry to increase North Carolina hospital participation in the registry, particularly those hospitals in high stroke/low resource areas of the State.
SECTION 2.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated to the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Branch to contract with entities such as Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) and NCOEMS to work with the North Carolina Collaborative Stroke Registry and the American Stroke Association to carry out professional workforce development, training, and communications initiatives among hospitals, emergency medical services responders, 911 operators, and other stakeholders.
SECTION 2.(c)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated to the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Branch for the implementation of public awareness campaigns and communication strategies in partnership with the American Stroke Association on stroke signs and symptoms and the importance of immediate response.
SECTION 2.(d)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated to the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Branch in partnership with the American Stroke Association, the Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence, and the North Carolina Hospital Association to conduct a follow‑up survey and gap analysis designed to provide a current assessment of stroke prevention and treatment services in the State.  The purpose of these funds is to assist in the development of a comprehensive stroke care system plan.
SECTION 2.(e)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Justus‑Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be allocated for operations of the Stroke Advisory Council.
SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2007.  The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.