Stroke Act

This Act may be cited as the “Stroke Act”.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.

(2) Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, causing more than 160,000 deaths each year.

(3) In 2023, stroke accounted for approximately 1 of every 19 deaths in the United States.

(4) Stroke caused 166,852 deaths in the United States in 2024.

(5) Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, which is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for stroke.

(6) Quick identification and treatment for stroke results in a higher chance of survival and reduces recovery time for individuals experiencing a stroke.

(7) Treatment depends on the type of stroke someone is having, which must be diagnosed by a health care professional.

(8) When dealing with a time-sensitive medical emergency services like a stroke, the right care, at the right time, at the right facility, is of the utmost importance.

(9) A system of care allows for scientifically proven measures to be applied to every patient, every time.

(a) In general.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the “Secretary”), in consultation with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, may conduct or support research relating to the delivery of stroke care, including research relating to—

(1) inconsistencies in inpatient and pre-hospital care;

(2) obstacles to stroke research participation and communication of research findings;

(3) public education about stroke and stroke symptoms;

(4) access to hyperacute and acute stroke care and quality stroke rehabilitation;

(5) discrepancies in stroke rehabilitation referral patterns;

(6) differences in the use of inpatient procedures; and

(7) demographic variations in diagnostic procedures and secondary stroke prevention medication.

(b) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.

(a) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities—

(1) to support the expansion, maintenance, and enhancement of a national stroke registry that collects standardized data on stroke care and outcomes across the United States; and

(2) to encourage the participation in such registry of—

(A) comprehensive stroke centers;

(B) thrombectomy-capable stroke centers or the equivalent that offer mechanical endovascular therapies;

(C) primary stroke centers; and

(D) acute stroke-ready hospitals.

(b) Requirements.— A national stroke registry supported under subsection (a) shall—

(1) collect and report standardized data on stroke care, treatment, quality measures, and patient outcomes from participating hospitals across the United States;

(2) build upon existing national stroke registry infrastructure to minimize duplication and maximize hospital participation;

(3) support quality improvement, benchmarking, and research activities to improve stroke care and patient outcomes nationally;

(4) facilitate data sharing and reporting with State, territorial, Tribal, and local public health agencies, as appropriate; and

(5) maintain applicable patient privacy, security, and confidentiality standards.

(c) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.

(a) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to public or nonprofit entities to carry out activities to improve the quality of stroke care across the continuum of care.

(b) Requirements.— An entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) may use the grant funds—

(1) to coordinate and disseminate stroke messaging and education within communities and clinical settings;

(2) to provide training to emergency medical services personnel, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians on, and to encourage the adoption of, best practices and protocols relating to the transport of, and pre-hospital care for, individuals suspected of having a stroke;

(3) to improve the coordination and provision of post-stroke care and rehabilitation services across community and clinical settings and across different types of health care coverage;

(4) to coordinate, develop, and implement professional and workforce development opportunities to improve evidence-based knowledge for stroke care, recognition of inconsistencies in stroke care, and implementation of activities to address such inconsistencies; and

(5) to provide training and technical assistance to increase the use of telestroke care for stroke patients in facilities located in regions in need of medical resources.

(c) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.

(a) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities to carry out a national education and information campaign to promote stroke prevention and to increase the number of stroke patients who seek immediate treatment.

(b) Requirement.— The Secretary shall ensure that the campaign carried out pursuant to subsection (a) does not duplicate existing stroke education efforts carried out by other Federal agencies.

(c) Consultation.— In carrying out this section, the Secretary may consult with national and local organizations that are dedicated to increasing public awareness of strokes, consumers of stroke awareness products, and providers of stroke care.

(d) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.