Section 51L. (a) The department and regional EMS councils created under section 4 of chapter 111C shall annually review and update, if appropriate, their pre-hospital care protocols and point-of-entry plans to ensure stroke patients are transported to the most appropriate facility in accordance with this section.

(b) The department shall make the list of designated stroke facilities available on its website and to the medical director of each licensed EMS provider, as defined in section 1 of chapter 111C. The department shall maintain the list in the office designated within the department to oversee emergency medical services and update the list not less than annually.

(c) The department shall convene a group of experts which shall include, but not limited to, a representative from the American Stroke Association, a representative from The Massachusetts Neurologic Association, Inc., a representative from the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery, a representative from Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians, Inc. and a representative of a regional EMS council created pursuant to section 4 of chapter 111C, with input from key stroke stakeholders and professional societies, to form a stroke advisory taskforce that shall assist with data oversight, program management and advice regarding the stroke system of care. The task force shall meet not less than biannually to review data and provide advice.