HB 1323 Summary

• Establishes a comprehensive statewide stroke system requiring the state health officer to develop standards for stroke centers, prehospital emergency medical services, hospital designations, stroke registry, and quality improvement programs.

• Creates three hospital designation levels: comprehensive stroke centers, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals, each requiring certification by department-approved nationally recognized organizations.

• Requires emergency medical services operations to adopt standardized stroke triage assessment tools and establish protocols for rapid identification and transport of stroke patients to appropriate designated facilities.

• Mandates maintenance of a statewide stroke database aligned with nationally recognized stroke metrics and establishes a stroke system of care task force with representatives from state health department, EMS operations, hospitals, and other stakeholders.

• Requires the state department of health to provide biennial reports to legislative management on progress toward stroke system recommendations and any recommendations for future legislation, effective June 1 of each even-numbered year.