An Act amending the act of May 29, 2012 (P.L.549, No.54), known as the Stroke System of Care Act, further providing for definitions; providing for Statewide stroke registry; and making an editorial change .

HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 370, 510 PRINTER'S NO. 944
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 411
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY VOGEL, BARTOLOTTA, KANE, HUGHES, FONTANA, CULVER,
TARTAGLIONE, COSTA AND STEFANO, MARCH 10, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AS AMENDED, JUNE 16, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 29, 2012 (P.L.549, No.54), entitled "An
act establishing a Statewide stroke system of care by
recognizing primary stroke centers and directing the creation
of emergency medical services training and transport
protocols; and providing for the powers and duties of the
Department of Health," FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS;
providing for Statewide stroke registry; AND MAKING AN
EDITORIAL CHANGE.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of May 29, 2012 (P.L.549, No.54), known
as the Stroke System of Care Act, is amended by adding a section
to read:
SECTION 1. SECTION 2 OF THE ACT OF MAY 29, 2012 (P.L.549,
NO.54), KNOWN AS THE STROKE SYSTEM OF CARE ACT, IS AMENDED BY
ADDING A DEFINITION TO READ:
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ACT SHALL
HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
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"THROMBECTOMY-CAPABLE STROKE CENTER." A FACILITY WHICH IS
DESIGNATED AS A THROMBECTOMY-CAPABLE STROKE CENTER BY THE JOINT
COMMISSION OR A NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES
(CMS) TO CONDUCT HOSPITAL SURVEYS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE
CMS CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION.
SECTION 2. SECTION 5(A) OF THE ACT IS AMENDED TO READ:
SECTION 5. BIENNIAL REPORT.
(A) DUTY TO PREPARE AND FILE.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PREPARE
A BIENNIAL REPORT BY JULY 1 IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS IN CONJUNCTION
WITH ITS REVIEW OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROTOCOLS. THE
REPORT SHALL BE FILED WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF
THE [PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE] HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY CHAIRMAN
OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
* * *
SECTION 3. THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
Section 5.1. Statewide stroke registry.
(a) Registry formation.--The department shall ensure access
to a Statewide stroke registry and REGISTRY. THE DEPARTMENT may
contract with a nationally recognized, evidence-based
organization for the utilization of the organization's stroke
care program data set in effect as of the effective date of this
subsection for the formation of a Statewide stroke registry to
REGISTRY. THE STATEWIDE STROKE REGISTRY SHALL be published on
the department's publicly accessible Internet website that
includes AND INCLUDE information and data on stroke care in this
Commonwealth that COMMONWEALTH. DATA AND INFORMATION SHALL align
with the stroke consensus metrics developed and approved by a
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nationally recognized, evidence-based organization in effect as
of the effective date of this subsection. The department shall
update the registry on a biannual basis in accordance with the
submission of data as required in subsection (b).
(b) Data submission.--On and after January 1, 2026, or 180
days after the effective date of this subsection, whichever is
later, each comprehensive stroke center, thrombectomy-capable
stroke center, primary stroke center and acute stroke-ready
hospital shall, on a biannual basis, submit data to the
department concerning stroke care for inclusion in the Statewide
stroke registry, as determined by the Secretary of Health. Data
under this subsection shall align with the stroke consensus
metrics developed and approved by the American Heart Association
A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, EVIDENCE-BASED ORGANIZATION in effect
as of the effective date of this subsection .
(c) Data access.--Each comprehensive stroke center,
thrombectomy-capable stroke center, primary stroke center and
acute stroke-ready hospital shall provide the department with
access to records, as the department deems necessary to perform
case findings or other quality improvement audits to ensure
completeness of reporting and data accuracy consistent with the
purposes of this section.
(d) Contract and reporting.--The department may enter a
contract with a nationally recognized, evidence-based
organization for the receipt, storage, holding, updating or
maintenance of the data or files under department control and
management. The department may enter into reciprocal reporting
agreements with the appropriate agencies of other states to
exchange stroke care data.
(E) CONFIDENTIALITY.--
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(1) DATA SUBMITTED AND MADE ACCESSIBLE UNDER THIS
SECTION MAY NOT CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL OR PERSONALLY
IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION OF ANY INDIVIDUAL.
(2) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO
REQUIRE THE DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL OR PERSONALLY
IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL.
Section 2 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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