Stroke Systems of Care Bill Goes Before Committee

 

Members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will soon vote on LB 722: the Stroke System of Care Act. The purpose of the Act is to improve the overall outcomes of stroke patients.  Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability; and with the aging of the population, the number of persons who have strokes is projected to increase.  Forecasting by the American Heart Association predicts stroke prevalence to increase by 24.9% between 2010 and 2030. The cost of treating stroke continues to increase. In Nebraska, total hospital charges for stroke increased by over $54 million between 2001 and 2010, from $54 to $108 million with the average charge per stroke hospitalization at $31,100 in 2010. 

LB 722 establishes a stroke system of care consisting of stroke hospital designation, EMS protocols for triage and transport, a stroke registry, and a stroke task force to help treat stroke patients in a timely manner and to improve the overall outcomes of these patients.

The rapid identification, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke can save the lives of stroke patients and in some cases can reverse neurological damage such as paralysis and speech and language impairments, leaving stroke patients with few or no neurological deficits.

Senate HHS Committee members include:  Senators Campbell, Baker, Crawford, Fox, Howard, Kolterman,and Riepe.  If your senate sits on this committee, we urge to contact him or her as soon as possible and ask for their support on OB 722 to improve the overall outcomes of stroke patients.  To take action now, CLICK HERE. 

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