BILL ANALYSIS
By: Deuell
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Strokes account for a significant number of deaths in Texas. After a stroke, every minute that elapses without treatment significantly reduces the victim's chance for survival. C.S.S.B. 330 establishes a stroke committee to create a stroke emergency transport plan. The plan will help EMS personnel become sufficiently prepared to treat stroke.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The substitute changes the title of this act to the Emergency Health Care Act, rather than the Emergency Medical Services Act. The bill changes the definition of "Department", and defines "advisory council," "stroke committee," and "stroke facility."
The substitute requires the advisory council for the Texas Board of Health (advisory Council) to appoint a stroke committee to assist it in the development of a statewide stroke plan. The bill sets forth requirements for composition of the stroke committee. Membership of the committee must include a licensed physician; nuroradiologist; a member of the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke; an emergency physician; neurosciece registered nurse; and a volunteer member of a nonprofit organization specializing in stroke treatment, prevention, and education. The bill provides that Chapter 2110 of the Government Code does not apply to the stroke committee.
The substitute requires the advisory council, with the assistance of the stroke committee and in collaboration with the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, to develop a statewide stroke emergency transport plan. Sets forth requirements for inclusion in the stroke plan. Requires the stroke committee to consult the criteria for stroke facilities established by national medical organizations such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations when developing the stroke emergency transport plan.
The substitute requires the advisory council to establish a stroke committee no later than January 1, 2006. The bill requires the advisory council to develop a statewide stroke emergency transport plan no later than January 1, 2007. Requires the advisory council to submit a report of the statewide stroke emergency transport plan to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, not later than January 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The original bill created criteria for designating hospitals as stroke centers and also established grant programs. The substitute removes these sections. C.S.S.B. 330 only establishes a stroke committee to develop a statewide emergency transport plan and directs