Congressman Cohen Introduces the Mobile Stroke Units Improve Health Outcomes Act

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-2) and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-3) today introduced the Mobile Stroke Units Improve Health Outcomes Act, legislation creating incentives for deploying mobile stroke units and providing Medicare reimbursement for their services.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Research is clear: access to timely treatment is critical for recovery, and mobile stroke units can provide it, bringing medical expertise to the patient and treating them on the way to the hospital. Particularly in rural areas where the nearest specialist can be an hour or farther away, the time saved between the stroke and treatment because of the availability of a mobile stroke unit can make a tremendous difference."

Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (NY-02) made the following statement:

"When someone suffers a stroke, every minute matters. Stony Brook Medicine's mobile stroke units are already helping save lives on Long Island, including in communities throughout my district. These units bring critical care directly to patients when they need it most. I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to ensure Medicare reimbursement policies support these lifesaving services and help more patients get treatment as quickly as possible."

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-3) made the following statement:

"As a stroke survivor, I know firsthand that when it comes to a stroke, every second matters. The difference between getting treatment in minutes instead of hours can mean the difference between a full recovery and a lifetime of disability. I'm proud to introduce legislation that will help ensure these units can receive Medicare reimbursement, expand access to faster treatment, and give more Americans a fighting chance at recovery. No one's chance of surviving a stroke should depend on whether lifesaving care can reach them in time."

M. Shazam Hussain, M.D., the immediate past president of PRE-Hospital Stroke Treatment Organization (PRESTO), made the following statement:

"More than 795,000 Americans experience a stroke each year-about one every 40 seconds. Reducing time-to-treatment is key to improve patient outcomes. Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) provide critical care that can make a difference for patients by providing a stroke diagnosis and initiating treatment en route to the hospital. The Mobile Stroke Units Improve Health Outcomes Act will make MSUs more financially feasible for hospitals to operate, deliver specialized stroke care, and improve health outcomes for Americans."

Currently, mobile stroke units (MSUs) are expensive to operate and are not appropriately reimbursed for services under Medicare.

The Mobile Stroke Units Improve Health Outcomes Act would authorize Medicare to reimburse MSUs for care and treatment of acute stroke under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). It also provides an incentive for an MSU to serve rural communities through a rendezvous model, matching the incentive available under the ambulance fee schedule.

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