Bill Text: PA SB137 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: In Department of Health, establishing the Cardiovascular Disease Advisory Committee; and providing for a Statewide stroke database.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-01-30 - Referred to PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE [SB137 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB137-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 109
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 137 Session of2009
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
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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
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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.
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(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.
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