SENATOR COLLINS SUPPORTS FUNDING FOR STROKE CARE

Washington, DC –Senator Susan Collins today joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to help ensure that stroke is more widely recognized by the public and treated more effectively by healthcare providers. The Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act (STOP Act) authorizes funding for states to develop statewide programs for stroke care so that victims receive effective care quickly, in an effort to reduce the level of disability caused by stroke.

"Every 45 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke. Moreover, many of these victims will either not survive – stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. – or will suffer permanent disabilities," Senator Collins said. "This bill will help save lives, reduce disability, and improve the quality of stroke care."

Specifically, the bill authorizes: a grant program to help states ensure that patients have access to quality stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services; a national public awareness campaign to educate the public about stroke warning signs and how stroke can be prevented; the Coverdell Stroke Registry and Clearinghouse to collect data and share best practices; and a grant program to educate medical professionals in newly developed diagnostic approaches, technologies and therapies.

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