AZ HB2157

Department of Health Services must adopt rules by January 1, 2014 relating to coordination of stroke care services between emergency medical services providers and hospitals.

Arizona Emergency Medical Services Council must establish emergency stroke care protocols in each of four local EMS coordinating regions for assessment, treatment, and transport of stroke patients to appropriate acute care facilities, consistent with nationally recognized protocols.

Department shall implement national standards for hospital-based and rehabilitative stroke care established by national heart disease and stroke organizations, with input from health care provider stakeholders.

Department shall use statewide stroke quality improvement databases compiling stroke care data consistent with stroke consensus metrics from the CDC, national heart and stroke organizations, and the national Department of Transportation EMS database.

Department of Health Services is exempt from standard rule-making requirements of Arizona Revised Statutes Title 41, Chapter 6 for two years following the effective date of this act.