Section 515.250  Hospital Stroke Care Fund

a)         When funding is available, the Director will annually distribute, through matching grants, moneys deposited into the Hospital Stroke Care Fund. The Director will provide funds to the following:

1)         Illinois hospitals that have been certified as Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals or that seek certification or designation or both as Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals.  If certification or designation is not achieved within 12 months after receipt of the grant, all grant funds shall be returned to the Hospital Stroke Care Fund.

2)         Illinois hospitals that have been designated as Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals or that seek designation as Acute Stroke-Ready-Hospitals. If designation is not achieved within 12 months after receipt of the grant, all grant funds shall be returned to the Hospital Stroke Care Fund.

b)         Money, including appropriations, donations and grants, shall be deposited into the fund and allocated according to the hospital needs in each region.

c)         Award of Funds

1)         Any hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or operated under the University of Illinois Hospital Act may apply to the Department for funds.

2)         Applications shall be made in a manner and form prescribed by the Department.  The form and instructions, including timelines for application submission and approval, will be posted on the Department's website.

3)         Each Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall forward to the Department matching grant recommendations that reflect a consensus of Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals, or other hospitals seeking certification or designation, within their EMS Region.  The Department will consider the Subcommittee's recommendations when awarding matching grants to hospitals seeking to improve stroke care.

4)         When applications exceed available funds, the Department may consider prioritizing grant awards to hospitals in areas with the highest incidence of stroke, taking into account geographic diversity, where possible. (Section 3.117.5(d) of the Act)

5)         All grant funds awarded shall be used exclusively for the establishment and retention of Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals, stroke networks and improvement of stroke systems of care.  Grant funds used for personnel costs shall be directly related to enhancement of stroke care. All grant funds are subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act.

d)         Subject to appropriation, the Director will award matching grants to:

1)         Hospitals for the acquisition and maintenance of necessary infrastructure,   including personnel, equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of acute stroke patients (Section 3.117.5(a) of the Act); 

2)         Hospitals to pay the fee for certifications and re-certifications by  Department-approved, nationally recognized certifying bodies or to  provide additional certification, education or training for directors of stroke care, physicians,  hospital staff,  or emergency medical services  personnel authorized under the Act (Section 3.117.5(a) of the Act);

3)         Comprehensive Stroke Centers, 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 (Section 3.117.5(b) of the Act);

4)         Hospitals that have been certified as Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals (Section 3.226(b)(1) of the Act);

5)         Hospitals that seek certification or designation or both as Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals (Section 3.226(b)(2) of the Act);

6)         Hospitals that have been designated Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals (Section 3.226(b)(3) of the Act);

7)         Hospitals that seek designation as Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals (Section 3.226(b)(4) of the Act); and

8)         Grants will also be awarded for the development of stroke networks (Section 3.226(b)(5) of the Act).

e)         Interfund transfers from the Hospital Stroke Care Fund shall be prohibited.  (Section 3.226(d) of the Act)

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 8274, effective June 3, 2016)