§ 19a-72a — State-wide stroke registry.

(a) The Department of Public Health shall maintain and operate a state-wide stroke registry. (b) On and after July 1, 2023, each comprehensive stroke center, thrombectomy-capable stroke center, primary stroke center or acute stroke-ready hospital shall, on a quarterly basis, submit to the Department of Public Health data concerning stroke care that are necessary for including in the state-wide stroke registry, as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health, and that, at a minimum, align with the stroke consensus metrics developed and approved by a nationally-recognized stroke certification body. The department shall apply privacy and security standards for such registry's data that are consistent with the department's policies for use of patient data. (c) Each comprehensive stroke center, thrombectomy-capable stroke center, primary stroke center and acute stroke-ready hospital shall provide access to its records to the Department of Public Health, as the department deems necessary, to perform case finding or other quality improvement audits to ensure completeness of reporting and data accuracy consistent with the purposes of this section. (d) The Department of Public Health may enter into a contract for the receipt, storage, holding or maintenance of the data or files under its control and management. (e) The Department of Public Health may enter into reciprocal reporting agreements with the appropriate agencies of other states to exchange stroke care data. (f) There is established a stroke registry data oversight committee to monitor the operations of the state-wide stroke registry, provide advice regarding the oversight of such registry, develop a plan to improve quality of stroke care and address disparities in the provision of such care, and develop short and long-term goals for improvement of stroke care in comprehensive stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable stroke centers, primary stroke centers and acute stroke-ready hospitals. Said committee shall be within the Legislative Branch and the administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health shall serve as administrative staff to said committee. Said committee shall consist of the following members, who shall be appointed not later than July 1, 2023: (1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (2) one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (3) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (4) one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (5) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and (6) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. An appointing authority may consult with the State of Connecticut Stroke Advisory Council in selecting a member to appoint to the oversight committee. Each member shall serve a term of two years. The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall each appoint, from among the members of the oversight committee, a co-chairperson, who shall jointly schedule the first meeting of the oversight committee on or before August 1, 2023. The Department of Public Health shall assist said committee in its work and provide any information or data that the committee deems necessary to fulfil its duties, unless the disclosure of such information or data is prohibited by state or federal law. Not later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the co-chairpersons of the committee shall jointly report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a , to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, regarding the work of the committee. Not later than January 1, 2024, and at least annually thereafter, such co-chairpersons shall report to the Commissioner of Public Health and the State of Connecticut Stroke Advisory Council, regarding the work of the committee. (g) The Commissioner of Public Health may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.

Legislative History

(P.A. 22-118, S. 147.) History: P.A. 22-118 effective May 7, 2022.