(1) The Task Force on Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention has the following duties:

(a) Undertake a statistical and qualitative examination of the incidence and causes of heart disease and stroke deaths and risks, including identification of subpopulations at highest risk for developing heart disease and stroke, and establish a profile of the social and economic burden of heart disease and stroke in Mississippi;

(b) Publicize the profile of the heart disease and stroke burden and its preventability in Mississippi;

(c) Identify priority strategies that are effective in preventing and controlling risks for heart disease and stroke, based on recommendations promulgated by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association;

(d) Adopt and promote a statewide comprehensive heart disease and stroke prevention plan to the general public, state and local elected officials, various public and private organizations and associations, business and industries, agencies, potential funders and other community resources;

(e) Identify and facilitate specific commitments to help implement the plan from the entities listed in paragraph (d);

(f) Facilitate coordination of and communication among state and local agencies and organizations regarding current or future involvement in achieving the aims of the plan;

(g) Receive and consider reports and testimony from individuals, local health departments, community-based organizations, voluntary health organizations, and other public and private organizations statewide, to learn more about their contributions to heart disease and stroke prevention, and their ideas for improving heart disease and stroke prevention in Mississippi;

(h) Determine the burden that delayed or inappropriate heart disease and stroke treatment has on the quality of patients’ lives and on their financial resources;

(i) Study the economic impact of early heart disease and stroke treatment, especially with regard to quality of care, reimbursement issues and rehabilitation;

(j) Determine what constitutes high quality treatment for heart disease and stroke, and adopt and disseminate guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke patients throughout the state; and

(k) Complete a detailed and specific plan of action for the State of Mississippi, and begin implementing the plan.

(2) The task force shall submit a preliminary report to the Legislature and the Governor within six (6) months of the first meeting; a second report during the 2002 Regular Session of the Legislature; and a third report by December 1, 2002. The reports shall address the plans, actions and resources needed to achieve its accomplishment, and progress in achieving implementation of the plan to reduce the occurrence of and burden from heart disease and stroke in Mississippi. The reports shall include an accounting of funds expended and anticipated funding needs for full implementation of recommended plans and programs. The task force will continue to submit reports to the Legislature and the Governor on an annual basis, updating the progress of implementing the state plan.