Bill Text: IL HB2238 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Defines "Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center", "Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center", and "Primary Stroke Center Plus". Provides for the certification and designation of Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, and Primary Stroke Centers Plus and makes conforming changes throughout the Act.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-5)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-30 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0149 [HB2238 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB2238-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning regulation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems
Act is amended by changing Sections 3.116, 3.117, 3.117.5,
3.118, 3.118.5, 3.119, and 3.226 as follows:
(210 ILCS 50/3.116)
Sec. 3.116. Hospital Stroke Care; definitions. As used in
Sections 3.116 through 3.119, 3.130, 3.200, and 3.226 of this
Act:
"Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital" means a hospital that has
been designated by the Department as meeting the criteria for
providing emergent stroke care. Designation may be provided
after a hospital has been certified or through application and
designation as such.
"Certification" or "certified" means certification, using
evidence-based standards, from a nationally recognized
certifying body approved by the Department.
"Comprehensive Stroke Center" means a hospital that has
been certified and has been designated as such.
"Designation" or "designated" means the Department's
recognition of a hospital as a Comprehensive Stroke Center,
Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital.

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"Emergent stroke care" is emergency medical care that
includes diagnosis and emergency medical treatment of acute
stroke patients.
"Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital" means a hospital that has
been designated by the Department as meeting the criteria for
providing emergent stroke care.
"Primary Stroke Center" means a hospital that has been
certified by a Department-approved, nationally recognized
certifying body and designated as such by the Department.
"Primary Stroke Center Plus" means a hospital that has
been certified by a Department-approved, nationally recognized
certifying body and designated as such by the Department.
"Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee" means a
subcommittee formed within each Regional EMS Advisory
Committee to advise the Director and the Region's EMS Medical
Directors Committee on the triage, treatment, and transport of
possible acute stroke patients and to select the Region's
representative to the State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee. At
minimum, the Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall
consist of: one representative from the EMS Medical Directors
Committee; one EMS coordinator from a Resource Hospital; one
administrative representative or his or her designee from each
level of stroke care, including Comprehensive Stroke Centers
within the Region, if any, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers
within the Region, if any, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers
within the Region, if any, Primary Stroke Centers Plus within

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the Region, if any, Primary Stroke Centers within the Region,
if any, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals within the Region, if
any; one physician from each level of stroke care, including
one physician who is a neurologist or who provides advanced
stroke care at a Comprehensive Stroke Center in the Region, if
any, one physician who is a neurologist or who provides acute
stroke care at a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center within the
Region, if any, a Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center within the
Region, if any, or a Primary Stroke Center Plus in the Region,
if any, one physician who is a neurologist or who provides
acute stroke care at a Primary Stroke Center in the Region, if
any, and one physician who provides acute stroke care at an
Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital in the Region, if any; one nurse
practicing in each level of stroke care, including one nurse
from a Comprehensive Stroke Center in the Region, if any, one
nurse from a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, if any, a
Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center within the Region, if any, or
a Primary Stroke Center Plus in the Region, if any, one nurse
from a Primary Stroke Center in the Region, if any, and one
nurse from an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital in the Region, if
any; one representative from both a public and a private
vehicle service provider that transports possible acute stroke
patients within the Region; the State-designated regional EMS
Coordinator; and a fire chief or his or her designee from the
EMS Region, if the Region serves a population of more than
2,000,000. The Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall

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establish bylaws to ensure equal membership that rotates and
clearly delineates committee responsibilities and structure.
Of the members first appointed, one-third shall be appointed
for a term of one year, one-third shall be appointed for a term
of 2 years, and the remaining members shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years. The terms of subsequent appointees shall be 3
years.
"State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee" means a standing
advisory body within the State Emergency Medical Services
Advisory Council.
"Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center" means a hospital that
has been certified by a Department-approved, nationally
recognized certifying body and designated as such by the
Department.
"Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center" means a hospital that
has been certified by a Department-approved, nationally
recognized certifying body and designated as such by the
Department.
(Source: P.A. 102-687, eff. 12-17-21.)
(210 ILCS 50/3.117)
Sec. 3.117. Hospital designations.
(a) The Department shall attempt to designate Primary
Stroke Centers in all areas of the State.
(1) The Department shall designate as many certified
Primary Stroke Centers as apply for that designation

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provided they are certified by a nationally recognized
certifying body, approved by the Department, and
certification criteria are consistent with the most
current nationally recognized, evidence-based stroke
guidelines related to reducing the occurrence,
disabilities, and death associated with stroke.
(2) A hospital certified as a Primary Stroke Center by
a nationally recognized certifying body approved by the
Department, shall send a copy of the Certificate and
annual fee to the Department and shall be deemed, within
30 business days of its receipt by the Department, to be a
State-designated Primary Stroke Center.
(3) A center designated as a Primary Stroke Center
shall pay an annual fee as determined by the Department
that shall be no less than $100 and no greater than $500.
All fees shall be deposited into the Stroke Data
Collection Fund.
(3.5) With respect to a hospital that is a designated
Primary Stroke Center, the Department shall have the
authority and responsibility to do the following:
(A) Suspend or revoke a hospital's Primary Stroke
Center designation upon receiving notice that the
hospital's Primary Stroke Center certification has
lapsed or has been revoked by the State recognized
certifying body.
(B) Suspend a hospital's Primary Stroke Center

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designation, in extreme circumstances where patients
may be at risk for immediate harm or death, until such
time as the certifying body investigates and makes a
final determination regarding certification.
(C) Restore any previously suspended or revoked
Department designation upon notice to the Department
that the certifying body has confirmed or restored the
Primary Stroke Center certification of that previously
designated hospital.
(D) Suspend a hospital's Primary Stroke Center
designation at the request of a hospital seeking to
suspend its own Department designation.
(4) Primary Stroke Center designation shall remain
valid at all times while the hospital maintains its
certification as a Primary Stroke Center, in good
standing, with the certifying body. The duration of a
Primary Stroke Center designation shall coincide with the
duration of its Primary Stroke Center certification. Each
designated Primary Stroke Center shall have its
designation automatically renewed upon the Department's
receipt of a copy of the accrediting body's certification
renewal.
(5) A hospital that no longer meets nationally
recognized, evidence-based standards for Primary Stroke
Centers, or loses its Primary Stroke Center certification,
shall notify the Department and the Regional EMS Advisory

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Committee within 5 business days.
(a-5) The Department shall attempt to designate
Comprehensive Stroke Centers in all areas of the State.
(1) The Department shall designate as many certified
Comprehensive Stroke Centers as apply for that
designation, provided that the Comprehensive Stroke
Centers are certified by a nationally recognized
certifying body approved by the Department, and provided
that the certifying body's certification criteria are
consistent with the most current nationally recognized and
evidence-based stroke guidelines for reducing the
occurrence of stroke and the disabilities and death
associated with stroke.
(2) A hospital certified as a Comprehensive Stroke
Center shall send a copy of the Certificate and annual fee
to the Department and shall be deemed, within 30 business
days of its receipt by the Department, to be a
State-designated Comprehensive Stroke Center.
(3) A hospital designated as a Comprehensive Stroke
Center shall pay an annual fee as determined by the
Department that shall be no less than $100 and no greater
than $500. All fees shall be deposited into the Stroke
Data Collection Fund.
(4) With respect to a hospital that is a designated
Comprehensive Stroke Center, the Department shall have the
authority and responsibility to do the following:

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(A) Suspend or revoke the hospital's Comprehensive
Stroke Center designation upon receiving notice that
the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center
certification has lapsed or has been revoked by the
State recognized certifying body.
(B) Suspend the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke
Center designation, in extreme circumstances in which
patients may be at risk for immediate harm or death,
until such time as the certifying body investigates
and makes a final determination regarding
certification.
(C) Restore any previously suspended or revoked
Department designation upon notice to the Department
that the certifying body has confirmed or restored the
Comprehensive Stroke Center certification of that
previously designated hospital.
(D) Suspend the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke
Center designation at the request of a hospital
seeking to suspend its own Department designation.
(5) Comprehensive Stroke Center designation shall
remain valid at all times while the hospital maintains its
certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, in good
standing, with the certifying body. The duration of a
Comprehensive Stroke Center designation shall coincide
with the duration of its Comprehensive Stroke Center
certification. Each designated Comprehensive Stroke Center

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shall have its designation automatically renewed upon the
Department's receipt of a copy of the certifying body's
certification renewal.
(6) A hospital that no longer meets nationally
recognized, evidence-based standards for Comprehensive
Stroke Centers, or loses its Comprehensive Stroke Center
certification, shall notify the Department and the
Regional EMS Advisory Committee within 5 business days.
(a-5) The Department shall attempt to designate
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke
Centers, and Primary Stroke Centers Plus in all areas of the
State according to the following requirements:
(1) The Department shall designate as many certified
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Centers, and Primary Stroke Centers Plus as apply
for that designation, provided that the body certifying
the facility uses certification criteria consistent with
the most current nationally recognized and evidence-based
stroke guidelines for reducing the occurrence of strokes
and the disabilities and death associated with strokes.
(2) A Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy
Ready Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center Plus shall
send a copy of the certificate of its designation and
annual fee to the Department and shall be deemed, within
30 business days after its receipt by the Department, to
be a State-designated Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center,

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Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center
Plus.
(3) A Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy
Ready Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center Plus shall
pay an annual fee as determined by the Department that
shall be no less than $100 and no greater than $500. All
fees collected under this paragraph shall be deposited
into the Stroke Data Collection Fund.
(4) With respect to a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, or Primary
Stroke Center Plus, the Department shall:
(A) suspend or revoke the Thrombectomy Capable
Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, or
Primary Stroke Center Plus designation upon receiving
notice that the Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center's,
Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center's, or Primary Stroke
Center Plus's certification has lapsed or has been
revoked by its certifying body;
(B) in extreme circumstances in which patients may
be at risk for immediate harm or death, suspend the
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center's, Thrombectomy
Ready Stroke Center's, or Primary Stroke Center Plus's
designation until its certifying body investigates the
circumstances and makes a final determination
regarding its certification;
(C) restore any previously suspended or revoked

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Department designation upon notice to the Department
that the certifying body has confirmed or restored the
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center's, Thrombectomy
Ready Stroke Center's, or Primary Stroke Center Plus's
certification; and
(D) suspend the Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Center's, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center's, or
Primary Stroke Center Plus's designation at the
request of a facility seeking to suspend its own
Department designation.
(5) A Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy
Ready Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center Plus
designation shall remain valid at all times while the
facility maintains its certification as a Thrombectomy
Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center,
or Primary Stroke Center Plus and is in good standing with
the certifying body. The duration of a Thrombectomy
Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center,
or Primary Stroke Center Plus designation shall be the
same as the duration of its Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, or Primary
Stroke Center Plus certification. Each designated
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center Plus shall have
its designation automatically renewed upon the
Department's receipt of a copy of the certifying body's

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renewal of the certification.
(6) A hospital that no longer meets the criteria for
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Centers, or Primary Stroke Centers Plus, or loses
its Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center Plus
certification, shall notify the Department and the
Regional EMS Advisory Committee of the situation within 5
business days after being made aware of it.
(b) Beginning on the first day of the month that begins 12
months after the adoption of rules authorized by this
subsection, the Department shall attempt to designate
hospitals as Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals in all areas of the
State. Designation may be approved by the Department after a
hospital has been certified as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital
or through application and designation by the Department. For
any hospital that is designated as an Emergent Stroke Ready
Hospital at the time that the Department begins the
designation of Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals, the Emergent
Stroke Ready designation shall remain intact for the duration
of the 12-month period until that designation expires. Until
the Department begins the designation of hospitals as Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospitals, hospitals may achieve Emergent Stroke
Ready Hospital designation utilizing the processes and
criteria provided in Public Act 96-514.
(1) (Blank).

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(2) Hospitals may apply for, and receive, Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital designation from the Department,
provided that the hospital attests, on a form developed by
the Department in consultation with the State Stroke
Advisory Subcommittee, that it meets, and will continue to
meet, the criteria for Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital
designation and pays an annual fee.
A hospital designated as an Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital shall pay an annual fee as determined by the
Department that shall be no less than $100 and no greater
than $500. All fees shall be deposited into the Stroke
Data Collection Fund.
(2.5) A hospital may apply for, and receive, Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital designation from the Department,
provided that the hospital provides proof of current Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital certification and the hospital pays
an annual fee.
(A) Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital designation shall
remain valid at all times while the hospital maintains
its certification as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital,
in good standing, with the certifying body.
(B) The duration of an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital
designation shall coincide with the duration of its
Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital certification.
(C) Each designated Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital
shall have its designation automatically renewed upon

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the Department's receipt of a copy of the certifying
body's certification renewal and Application for
Stroke Center Designation form.
(D) A hospital must submit a copy of its
certification renewal from the certifying body as soon
as practical but no later than 30 business days after
that certification is received by the hospital. Upon
the Department's receipt of the renewal certification,
the Department shall renew the hospital's Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital designation.
(E) A hospital designated as an Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital shall pay an annual fee as determined by the
Department that shall be no less than $100 and no
greater than $500. All fees shall be deposited into
the Stroke Data Collection Fund.
(3) Hospitals seeking Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital
designation that do not have certification shall develop
policies and procedures that are consistent with
nationally recognized, evidence-based protocols for the
provision of emergent stroke care. Hospital policies
relating to emergent stroke care and stroke patient
outcomes shall be reviewed at least annually, or more
often as needed, by a hospital committee that oversees
quality improvement. Adjustments shall be made as
necessary to advance the quality of stroke care delivered.
Criteria for Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital designation of

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hospitals shall be limited to the ability of a hospital
to:
(A) create written acute care protocols related to
emergent stroke care;
(A-5) participate in the data collection system
provided in Section 3.118, if available;
(B) maintain a written transfer agreement with one
or more hospitals that have neurosurgical expertise;
(C) designate a Clinical Director of Stroke Care
who shall be a clinical member of the hospital staff
with training or experience, as defined by the
facility, in the care of patients with cerebrovascular
disease. This training or experience may include, but
is not limited to, completion of a fellowship or other
specialized training in the area of cerebrovascular
disease, attendance at national courses, or prior
experience in neuroscience intensive care units. The
Clinical Director of Stroke Care may be a neurologist,
neurosurgeon, emergency medicine physician, internist,
radiologist, advanced practice registered nurse, or
physician's assistant;
(C-5) provide rapid access to an acute stroke
team, as defined by the facility, that considers and
reflects nationally recognized, evidence-based
protocols or guidelines;
(D) administer thrombolytic therapy, or

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subsequently developed medical therapies that meet
nationally recognized, evidence-based stroke
guidelines;
(E) conduct brain image tests at all times;
(F) conduct blood coagulation studies at all
times;
(G) maintain a log of stroke patients, which shall
be available for review upon request by the Department
or any hospital that has a written transfer agreement
with the Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital;
(H) admit stroke patients to a unit that can
provide appropriate care that considers and reflects
nationally recognized, evidence-based protocols or
guidelines or transfer stroke patients to an Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital, Primary Stroke Center, or
Comprehensive Stroke Center, or another facility that
can provide the appropriate care that considers and
reflects nationally recognized, evidence-based
protocols or guidelines; and
(I) demonstrate compliance with nationally
recognized quality indicators.
(4) With respect to Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital
designation, the Department shall have the authority and
responsibility to do the following:
(A) Require hospitals applying for Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital designation to attest, on a form

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developed by the Department in consultation with the
State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee, that the hospital
meets, and will continue to meet, the criteria for an
Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital.
(A-5) Require hospitals applying for Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital designation via national Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital certification to provide proof
of current Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital certification,
in good standing.
The Department shall require a hospital that is
already certified as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital to
send a copy of the Certificate to the Department.
Within 30 business days of the Department's
receipt of a hospital's Acute Stroke-Ready Certificate
and Application for Stroke Center Designation form
that indicates that the hospital is a certified Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital, in good standing, the hospital
shall be deemed a State-designated Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital. The Department shall send a designation
notice to each hospital that it designates as an Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital and shall add the names of
designated Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals to the website
listing immediately upon designation. The Department
shall immediately remove the name of a hospital from
the website listing when a hospital loses its
designation after notice and, if requested by the

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hospital, a hearing.
The Department shall develop an Application for
Stroke Center Designation form that contains a
statement that "The above named facility meets the
requirements for Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital
Designation as provided in Section 3.117 of the
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act" and
shall instruct the applicant facility to provide: the
hospital name and address; the hospital CEO or
Administrator's typed name and signature; the hospital
Clinical Director of Stroke Care's typed name and
signature; and a contact person's typed name, email
address, and phone number.
The Application for Stroke Center Designation form
shall contain a statement that instructs the hospital
to "Provide proof of current Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital certification from a nationally recognized
certifying body approved by the Department".
(B) Designate a hospital as an Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital no more than 30 business days after receipt
of an attestation that meets the requirements for
attestation, unless the Department, within 30 days of
receipt of the attestation, chooses to conduct an
onsite survey prior to designation. If the Department
chooses to conduct an onsite survey prior to
designation, then the onsite survey shall be conducted

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within 90 days of receipt of the attestation.
(C) Require annual written attestation, on a form
developed by the Department in consultation with the
State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee, by Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospitals to indicate compliance with
Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital criteria, as described in
this Section, and automatically renew Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital designation of the hospital.
(D) Issue an Emergency Suspension of Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital designation when the Director,
or his or her designee, has determined that the
hospital no longer meets the Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital criteria and an immediate and serious danger
to the public health, safety, and welfare exists. If
the Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital fails to eliminate the
violation immediately or within a fixed period of
time, not exceeding 10 days, as determined by the
Director, the Director may immediately revoke the
Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital designation. The Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital may appeal the revocation within
15 business days after receiving the Director's
revocation order, by requesting an administrative
hearing.
(E) After notice and an opportunity for an
administrative hearing, suspend, revoke, or refuse to
renew an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital designation, when

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the Department finds the hospital is not in
substantial compliance with current Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital criteria.
(c) The Department shall consult with the State Stroke
Advisory Subcommittee for developing the designation,
re-designation, and de-designation processes for Comprehensive
Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers,
Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers
Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospitals.
(d) The Department shall consult with the State Stroke
Advisory Subcommittee as subject matter experts at least
annually regarding stroke standards of care.
(Source: P.A. 102-687, eff. 12-17-21.)
(210 ILCS 50/3.117.5)
Sec. 3.117.5. Hospital Stroke Care; grants.
(a) In order to encourage the establishment and retention
of Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospitals throughout the State, the Director may award,
subject to appropriation, matching grants to hospitals to be
used for the acquisition and maintenance of necessary
infrastructure, including personnel, equipment, and
pharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of acute

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stroke patients. Grants may be used to pay the fee for
certifications by Department approved nationally recognized
certifying bodies or to provide additional training for
directors of stroke care or for hospital staff.
(b) The Director may award grant moneys to Comprehensive
Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers,
Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers
Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals
for developing or enlarging stroke networks, for stroke
education, and to enhance the ability of the EMS System to
respond to possible acute stroke patients.
(c) A Comprehensive Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Capable
Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, Primary
Stroke Center Plus, Primary Stroke Center, or Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital, or a hospital seeking certification as
a Comprehensive Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, Primary Stroke
Center Plus, Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital or designation as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital, may
apply to the Director for a matching grant in a manner and form
specified by the Director and shall provide information as the
Director deems necessary to determine whether the hospital is
eligible for the grant.
(d) Matching grant awards shall be made to Comprehensive
Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers,
Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers

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Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals, or
hospitals seeking certification or designation as a
Comprehensive Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, Primary Stroke
Center Plus, Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital. The Department may consider prioritizing grant
awards to hospitals in areas with the highest incidence of
stroke, taking into account geographic diversity, where
possible.
(Source: P.A. 102-687, eff. 12-17-21.)
(210 ILCS 50/3.118)
Sec. 3.118. Reporting.
(a) The Director shall, not later than July 1, 2012,
prepare and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a
report indicating the total number of hospitals that have
applied for grants, the project for which the application was
submitted, the number of those applicants that have been found
eligible for the grants, the total number of grants awarded,
the name and address of each grantee, and the amount of the
award issued to each grantee.
(b) By July 1, 2010, the Director shall send the list of
designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable
Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary
Stroke Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospitals to all Resource Hospital EMS Medical

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Directors in this State and shall post a list of designated
Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospitals on the Department's website, which shall be
continuously updated.
(c) The Department shall add the names of designated
Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospitals to the website listing immediately upon designation
and shall immediately remove the name when a hospital loses
its designation after notice and a hearing.
(d) Stroke data collection systems and all stroke-related
data collected from hospitals shall comply with the following
requirements:
(1) The confidentiality of patient records shall be
maintained in accordance with State and federal laws.
(2) Hospital proprietary information and the names of
any hospital administrator, health care professional, or
employee shall not be subject to disclosure.
(3) Information submitted to the Department shall be
privileged and strictly confidential and shall be used
only for the evaluation and improvement of hospital stroke
care. Stroke data collected by the Department shall not be
directly available to the public and shall not be subject

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to civil subpoena, nor discoverable or admissible in any
civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding against a
health care facility or health care professional.
(e) The Department may administer a data collection system
to collect data that is already reported by designated
Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospitals to their certifying body, to fulfill certification
requirements. Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy
Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers,
Primary Stroke Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospitals may provide data used in submission to
their certifying body, to satisfy any Department reporting
requirements. The Department may require submission of data
elements in a format that is used State-wide. In the event the
Department establishes reporting requirements for designated
Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospitals, the Department shall permit each designated
Comprehensive Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital to capture information using existing electronic
reporting tools used for certification purposes. Nothing in

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this Section shall be construed to empower the Department to
specify the form of internal recordkeeping. Three years from
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General
Assembly, the Department may post stroke data submitted by
Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospitals on its website, subject to the following:
(1) Data collection and analytical methodologies shall
be used that meet accepted standards of validity and
reliability before any information is made available to
the public.
(2) The limitations of the data sources and analytic
methodologies used to develop comparative hospital
information shall be clearly identified and acknowledged,
including, but not limited to, the appropriate and
inappropriate uses of the data.
(3) To the greatest extent possible, comparative
hospital information initiatives shall use standard-based
norms derived from widely accepted provider-developed
practice guidelines.
(4) Comparative hospital information and other
information that the Department has compiled regarding
hospitals shall be shared with the hospitals under review
prior to public dissemination of the information.
Hospitals have 30 days to make corrections and to add

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helpful explanatory comments about the information before
the publication.
(5) Comparisons among hospitals shall adjust for
patient case mix and other relevant risk factors and
control for provider peer groups, when appropriate.
(6) Effective safeguards to protect against the
unauthorized use or disclosure of hospital information
shall be developed and implemented.
(7) Effective safeguards to protect against the
dissemination of inconsistent, incomplete, invalid,
inaccurate, or subjective hospital data shall be developed
and implemented.
(8) The quality and accuracy of hospital information
reported under this Act and its data collection, analysis,
and dissemination methodologies shall be evaluated
regularly.
(9) None of the information the Department discloses
to the public under this Act may be used to establish a
standard of care in a private civil action.
(10) The Department shall disclose information under
this Section in accordance with provisions for inspection
and copying of public records required by the Freedom of
Information Act, provided that the information satisfies
the provisions of this Section.
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, under
no circumstances shall the Department disclose information

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obtained from a hospital that is confidential under Part
21 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(12) No hospital report or Department disclosure may
contain information identifying a patient, employee, or
licensed professional.
(Source: P.A. 98-1001, eff. 1-1-15.)
(210 ILCS 50/3.118.5)
Sec. 3.118.5. State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee; triage
and transport of possible acute stroke patients.
(a) There shall be established within the State Emergency
Medical Services Advisory Council, or other statewide body
responsible for emergency health care, a standing State Stroke
Advisory Subcommittee, which shall serve as an advisory body
to the Council and the Department on matters related to the
triage, treatment, and transport of possible acute stroke
patients. Membership on the Committee shall be as
geographically diverse as possible and include one
representative from each Regional Stroke Advisory
Subcommittee, to be chosen by each Regional Stroke Advisory
Subcommittee. The Director shall appoint additional members,
as needed, to ensure there is adequate representation from the
following:
(1) an EMS Medical Director;
(2) a hospital administrator, or designee, from a
Comprehensive Stroke Center;

HB2238 Engrossed - 28 - LRB103 30630 CPF 57082 b
(2.5) a hospital administrator, or designee, from a
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center Plus;
(3) a hospital administrator, or designee, from a
Primary Stroke Center;
(3.5) a hospital administrator, or designee, from an
Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital;
(3.10) a registered nurse from a Comprehensive Stroke
Center;
(3.15) a registered nurse from a Thrombectomy Capable
Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Center, or
Primary Stroke Center Plus;
(4) a registered nurse from a Primary Stroke Center;
(5) a registered nurse from an Acute Stroke-Ready
Hospital;
(5.5) a physician providing advanced stroke care from
a Comprehensive Stroke center;
(5.10) a physician providing stroke care from a
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Center, or Primary Stroke Center Plus;
(6) a physician providing stroke care from a Primary
Stroke Center;
(7) a physician providing stroke care from an Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospital;
(8) an EMS Coordinator;
(9) an acute stroke patient advocate;

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(10) a fire chief, or designee, from an EMS Region
that serves a population of over 2,000,000 people;
(11) a fire chief, or designee, from a rural EMS
Region;
(12) a representative from a private ambulance
provider;
(12.5) a representative from a municipal EMS provider;
and
(13) a representative from the State Emergency Medical
Services Advisory Council.
(b) Of the members first appointed, 9 members shall be
appointed for a term of one year, 9 members shall be appointed
for a term of 2 years, and the remaining members shall be
appointed for a term of 3 years. The terms of subsequent
appointees shall be 3 years.
(c) The State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall be
provided a 90-day period in which to review and comment upon
all rules proposed by the Department pursuant to this Act
concerning stroke care, except for emergency rules adopted
pursuant to Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative
Procedure Act. The 90-day review and comment period shall
commence prior to publication of the proposed rules and upon
the Department's submission of the proposed rules to the
individual Committee members, if the Committee is not meeting
at the time the proposed rules are ready for Committee review.
(d) The State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall develop

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and submit an evidence-based statewide stroke assessment tool
to clinically evaluate potential stroke patients to the
Department for final approval. Upon approval, the Department
shall disseminate the tool to all EMS Systems for adoption.
The Director shall post the Department-approved stroke
assessment tool on the Department's website. The State Stroke
Advisory Subcommittee shall review the Department-approved
stroke assessment tool at least annually to ensure its
clinical relevancy and to make changes when clinically
warranted.
(d-5) Each EMS Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall
submit recommendations for continuing education for
pre-hospital personnel to that Region's EMS Medical Directors
Committee.
(e) Nothing in this Section shall preclude the State
Stroke Advisory Subcommittee from reviewing and commenting on
proposed rules which fall under the purview of the State
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. Nothing in this
Section shall preclude the Emergency Medical Services Advisory
Council from reviewing and commenting on proposed rules which
fall under the purview of the State Stroke Advisory
Subcommittee.
(f) The Director shall coordinate with and assist the EMS
System Medical Directors and Regional Stroke Advisory
Subcommittee within each EMS Region to establish protocols
related to the assessment, treatment, and transport of

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possible acute stroke patients by licensed emergency medical
services providers. These protocols shall include regional
transport plans for the triage and transport of possible acute
stroke patients to the most appropriate Comprehensive Stroke
Center, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Center, Primary Stroke Center Plus, Primary Stroke
Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital, unless circumstances
warrant otherwise.
(Source: P.A. 98-1001, eff. 1-1-15.)
(210 ILCS 50/3.119)
Sec. 3.119. Stroke Care; restricted practices. Sections in
this Act pertaining to Comprehensive Stroke Centers,
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke
Centers, Primary Stroke Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers,
and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals are not medical practice
guidelines and shall not be used to restrict the authority of a
hospital to provide services for which it has received a
license under State law.
(Source: P.A. 98-1001, eff. 1-1-15.)
(210 ILCS 50/3.226)
Sec. 3.226. Hospital Stroke Care Fund.
(a) The Hospital Stroke Care Fund is created as a special
fund in the State treasury for the purpose of receiving
appropriations, donations, and grants collected by the

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Illinois Department of Public Health pursuant to Department
designation of Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy
Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers,
Primary Stroke Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospitals. All moneys collected by the Department
pursuant to its authority to designate Comprehensive Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy
Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers Plus, Primary
Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals shall be
deposited into the Fund, to be used for the purposes in
subsection (b).
(b) The purpose of the Fund is to allow the Director of the
Department to award matching grants:
(1) to hospitals that have been certified as
Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke
Centers, Thrombectomy Ready Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke
Centers Plus, Primary Stroke Centers, or Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospitals;
(2) to hospitals that seek certification or
designation or both as Comprehensive Stroke Centers,
Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Ready
Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers Plus, Primary
Stroke Centers, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals;
(3) to hospitals that have been designated Acute
Stroke-Ready Hospitals;
(4) to hospitals that seek designation as Acute

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Stroke-Ready Hospitals; and
(5) for the development of stroke networks.
Hospitals may use grant funds to work with the EMS System
to improve outcomes of possible acute stroke patients.
(c) Moneys deposited in the Hospital Stroke Care Fund
shall be allocated according to the hospital needs within each
EMS region and used solely for the purposes described in this
Act.
(d) Interfund transfers from the Hospital Stroke Care Fund
shall be prohibited.
(Source: P.A. 98-1001, eff. 1-1-15.)