THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY ERICKSON, TOMLINSON, FERLO, RAFFERTY, ORIE, FONTANA, MUSTO, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, ROBBINS, O'PAKE, BROWNE, KITCHEN, COSTA, WONDERLING AND STACK, JANUARY 30, 2009

REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, JANUARY 30, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled

"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the

executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the

Executive Department thereof and the administrative

departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,

including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or

Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or

authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative

departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and

duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative

officers, and of the several administrative departments,

boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive

and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of

certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and

other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,

and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the

number and compensation of the deputies and all other

assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and

commissions shall be determined," in Department of Health,

establishing the Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee;

and providing for a Statewide stroke database.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known

as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding

sections to read:

Section 2126.  Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee.--

(a)  The Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee in the

Department of Health is established.

(b)  The Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee shall:

(1)  Advise the Department of Health on how to raise

awareness on prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke

among the public, the health care community and policymakers

using all available data.

(2)  Identify evidence-based best practice education

strategies for the public to identify risk factors associated

with the cardiovascular disease and stroke and to identify

symptoms at onset.

(3)  Identify and review evidence-based best practice health

promotion and disease prevention strategies related to

cardiovascular disease and stroke for implementation in this

Commonwealth, with the goal of reducing death and long-term

disability among the citizens of this Commonwealth.

(4)  Identify limitations and problems associated with

existing laws, regulations, programs and services related to

cardiovascular disease and stroke and propose feasible changes.

(5)  Examine evidence-based current and alternative treatment

options available for treating different types of cardiovascular

disease and stroke.

(6)  Review data collected by the Department of Health

pursuant to section 2127 to identify areas of improved outcomes,

including reduced secondary stroke events.

(7)  Identify any additional issues that come before the

advisory committee.

(c)  (1)  The Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee shall

consist of a maximum of sixteen members, including

representatives from the Department of Aging, the Department of

Health, the Insurance Department and the Department of Public

Welfare.

(2)  The Secretary of Health shall appoint one representative

from each of the following fields to serve on the advisory

committee:

(i)  Board-certified cardiac surgeon.

(ii)  Board-certified neurologist.

(iii)  Public health professional.

(iv)  Licensed dietitian.

(v)  Registered nurse with expertise in cardiovascular

disease.

(vi)  Hospital administrator.

(vii)  Disparate community.

(viii)  Emergency medical services community.

(ix)  Organization representing the rural population.

(x)  Board-certified primary care provider that is a

physician specializing in either family practice or internal

medicine.

(xi)  Nonprofit health service plan.

(xii)  Voluntary organization that addresses cardiovascular

disease.

(d)  The term of the advisory committee members shall be two

years from the respective date of their appointment, except that

the initial appointments shall be made in such a manner so that

six members appointed under subsection (c)(2) shall be appointed

for a term of two years, and six members shall be appointed for

a term of one year. A member shall hold office for the term of

his appointment and until a successor has been appointed and

qualified. All vacancies shall be filled for the balance of the

unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. A

member of the advisory committee is eligible for reappointment

by the Secretary of Health, contingent upon diligent attendance

at meetings of the board.

(e)  The Secretary of Health or his designee will serve as

the chairperson of the advisory committee and may select a

secretary, who need not be a member of the advisory committee.

(f)  Members who are not employes of State Government shall

be reimbursed for travel and other actual expenses reasonably

incurred in the performance of their duties.

(g)  The advisory committee shall meet no less than twice

annually. Nine members of the advisory committee shall

constitute a quorum for the purpose of exercising all of the

powers of the advisory committee. A vote of the majority of the

members present shall be sufficient for all actions of the

advisory committee.

(h)  This section shall expire December 31, 2013.

Section 2127.  Stroke Data Collection.--(a)  The Department

of Health shall establish and maintain a State-wide stroke

database that compiles stroke care information and statistics

relating to strokes in this Commonwealth and shall make

information and statistics available to the public on the

Department of Health's Internet website. The Department of

Health shall not be required to collect data for this database

that is already required to be collected by the Pennsylvania

Health Care Cost Containment Council.

(b)  To every extent possible, the Department of Health shall

coordinate with the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment

Council to avoid duplication and redundancy in the collection of

data for the database.

(c)  In establishing this database the Department of Health

shall use its annual survey of hospitals to collect aggregate

information by hospital on the Joint Commission of Accreditation

of Healthcare Organizations Primary Stroke Centers Standardized

Stroke Measure Set used, as a measurement of best practice for

stroke care.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.