HCS HB 1790 -- HEART ATTACK AND STROKE CENTERS

SPONSOR:  Cooper (155)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Health
Care Policy by a vote of 8 to 0.

Currently, a hospital can be designated as a trauma center, and
severely injured patients will be transported to the nearest
designated trauma center.  This substitute changes the laws
regarding hospital designation by the Department of Health and
Senior Services to include a STEMI center and a stroke center if
it meets the department's applicable level of STEMI or stroke
center criteria.  "ST-elevation myocardial infarction" (STEMI) is
defined as a type of heart attack in which impaired blood flow to
the heart is evidenced by findings in electrocardiogram analysis.
The department is required to:

(1)  Compile and assess peer-reviewed and evidence-based clinical
research and guidelines that provide or support recommended
treatment standards;

(2)  Assess the capacity of the emergency medical services system
and hospitals to deliver recommended treatments in a timely
fashion;

(3)  Establish protocols for transporting STEMI patients to STEMI
centers and stroke patients to stroke centers;

(4)  Establish regions within the state for coordinating the
delivery of STEMI and stroke care;

(5)  Promote the development of regional or community-based plans
for transporting STEMI and stroke patients to STEMI and stroke
centers; and

(6)  Establish procedures for the submission of community-based
or regional plans for department approval.

A community-based or regional plan must be submitted to the
department for approval.  Plans must be based on clinical
research and guidelines and the capacity assessment of emergency
medical services.  Patients who suffer a STEMI or stroke will be
transported to the nearest STEMI or stroke center.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will provide better
patient care, allows early treatment of STEMI and stroke
patients, can decrease patient mortality, and creates a
coordinated and integrated system to treat STEMI and stroke
patients.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cooper (155);
Department of Health and Senior Services; Missouri Ambulance
Association; Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust; Missouri
Hospital Association; American Heart Association; Andrea Jackson,
Genentech, Incorporated; Missouri State Medical Association;
Missouri College of Emergency Physicians; Mark Alexander, State
Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services; Randall Davis;
Missouri Academy of Family Physicians; Richard Correr; Kathy
Davis, RN; Brian Froelke, MD; William Gilmore; and Cynthia
Andrews, DO FACEP.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm