SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General laws, as appearing in the 2016 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after Section 51J the following sections:-

Section 51K. Designation of Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals, Primary Stroke Centers and Comprehensive Stroke Centers

The Department of Public health shall designate hospitals that meet the criteria set forth in this act as acute stroke ready hospital, primary stroke center or comprehensive stroke center .

A hospital shall apply to the Department of Public Health for designation provided the hospital has been certified by The Joint Commission, American Heart Association or another  department-approved, nationally recognized certifying body as  acute stroke ready hospital, primary stroke center or comprehensive stroke center.

Until the adoption of rules authorized by this subsection, the Department shall designate Primary Stroke Service Hospitals as Acute Stroke Ready hospitals capable of providing care previously denoted in regulations as primary stroke service care. The Department shall promulgate rules by XX/YY/ZZZZ authorized by this subsection.

Until the Department begins the designation of all three tiers of stroke facilities, hospitals may maintain Primary Stroke Service designation utilizing the existing processes and criteria for a 12-month period. Primary Stroke Service Hospitals at the time that the Department begins the designation process shall be recognized as Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals. After that time, all Primary Stroke Service hospitals will be considered Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals regardless of additional capacity until they apply for and receive a higher designation of Primary Stroke Center or Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Section 51L. Emergency Medical Services Providers; Assessment and Transportation of Stroke Patients to Designated Stroke Center.

All EMS Authorities across the state shall establish pre-hospital care protocols related to the assessment, treatment, transport and rerouting of stroke patients by licensed emergency medical services providers in this state to Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals, Primary Stroke Centers and Comprehensive Stroke Centers facilities.  Such protocols shall include plans for the triage and transport of suspected stroke patients to an appropriate facility, within a specified timeframe of onset of symptoms and additional criteria to determine which level of care is the most appropriate destination. EMS authorities will base their protocols on national recognized guidelines for transport of acute stroke patients.  The department of public health shall promulgate regulations to address rerouting protocols

The Department of Public Health shall make available the list of designated stroke centers to the medical director of each licensed emergency medical services provider in this state, shall maintain a copy of the list in the office designated within the department to oversee emergency medical services, and shall post a list of all Designated Stroke Centers and the level of care to the Department of Public Health website.

Section 51M Continuous Improvement of Quality of Care for Stroke Patients

The Department shall maintain a data oversight process which shall include

(a)A Massachusetts stroke registry database that compiles information and statistics on stroke care which align with nationally recognized stroke measures 

(b)Hospitals designated by the Department of Public Health as Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals, Primary Stroke Centers or Comprehensive Stroke Centers shall utilize a nationally recognized data platform to collect the stroke data set which is required by the state and by the Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals, Primary Stroke Centers or Comprehensive Stroke Centers designating body.

(c)These data elements will be collected via the data registry platform and transmitted to the State for inclusion in the Massachusetts stroke registry.

(d)The department of public health will convene a group of experts with input from key stroke stakeholders and professional societies to form a state stroke advisory taskforce that will assist with data oversight, program management and advice regarding the stroke system of care. This task force will meet at least quarterly to review data and provide advice.