South Carolina Hospital Association Newsletter
     
Inside this issue
  American Health Care Act  
  The U.S. House of Representatives delayed a vote yesterday on the American Health Care Act. Instead, they continued to make changes to the bill in an effort to gain the necessary votes for passage. The House is in the midst of four hours of debate on the bill as amended. A vote is expected this afternoon. Keep an eye out for an SCHA Federal Update with details of the legislation and vote later today.

SCHA and many other healthcare provider groups oppose the legislation. Hospital leaders and employees are encouraged to contact their Representatives and Senators and share their concerns about the huge coverage loss and the pressure that places on hospitals. South Carolina hospitals continue to stand ready to provide care for all, but will face immense financial pressure if the uninsured rate spikes and the most vulnerable are left out of coverage.
 

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  Crisis Stabilization Unit Legislation Gets Support on House Floor  
  H.3666 (G.M. Smith) was on the House floor this week and its sponsor took a few moments to explain the bill and take questions. The bill, companion to S.354 (Alexander), defines crisis stabilization unit facilities and clarifies that they are not subject to the certificate of need program as DMH-operated facilities. SCHA strongly supports the legislation as part of our behavioral health agenda to improve access and services for behavioral health patients throughout the state.

Representative Roger Kirby (D-Florence) asked how many facilities the department hoped to operate throughout the state, to which Rep. Smith responded the goal was four - distributed regionally. Rep. Kirby voiced his strong support of the facilities and the efforts being made by DMH to improve access and services for behavioral health patients.

Representative Mike Pitts (R-Laurens) also stated his strong support for the crisis stabilization units as a retired law enforcement officer and asked more specifically how they would work as a collaboration in communities. Rep. Smith said it was a two-fold effort, working with law enforcement and continuing the work hospitals have been doing in emergency rooms for psychiatric patients in order to treat them more appropriately in the crisis stabilization setting. Rep. Pitts added that this initiative is a great thing for law enforcement, hospitals, and patients as well as their families who do not know where to turn in these crisis situations.

Rep. Smith acknowledged the great work DMH Director John Magill has been doing to improve the state's ability to provide behavioral health care to the growing population of citizens diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

This bill received third reading the House this week as S.354 received third reading in the Senate.
 

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  In Other News  
 
  • Lewis Blackmon Hospital Patient Safety Act: A bill to expand the reach of name badge requirements for healthcare practitioners in the Lewis Blackmon Hospital Patient Safety Act passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday immediately after receiving a favorable report for a subcommittee. The bill would require healthcare facilities not currently subject to the name badge requirements, such as physician practice offices, to follow similar guidelines in identification of providers. The committee amended the bill to conform the name badge requirements for non-hospital healthcare facilities to the requirements already existing for hospital clinicians.
  • Constitutional Carry: A bill, H.3930 (Pitts), aiming to allow constitutional carry in South Carolina passed the House Judiciary committee this week after heated debate. As amended by the committee, the bill lists several specific locations where handguns would still be prohibited, including hospitals or other facilities where medical services are performed.
  • SCHA Luncheon: SCHA hosted a legislative luncheon on Wednesday for legislators, staff, and hospital leaders throughout the state. The lunch was well attended and showcased a presentation of the economic impact the hospitals and health systems have in their communities. Pictures from the event can be found here. Earlier that morning, the A Healthier State House trail markers were officially revealed at a ribbon cutting on the State House grounds. The event is part of the A Healthier State House initiative to encourage legislators to lead by example in improving the health of South Carolina. Photos from the ribbon cutting can be seen here.
 

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  Chamber Action  
  Senate
  • S.354 (Alexander) - defines crisis stabilization unit facility and establishes that such facilities are not subject to the certificate of need process - received 3rd reading in Senate
  • S.173 (Sheheen) - establishes education requirements for law enforcement in mental health or addictive disorders and crisis response in behavioral health crisis situations - received 3rd reading in Senate and referred to House Judiciary Committee
  • H.3438 (Henderson) - allows a pharmacist to substitute an interchangeable biological product for a specific biological product in a prescription - received 2nd reading in the Senate
  • S.9 (Hutto) - defines 'medical expense policy' and provides that the optional intoxicants and narcotics exclusion does not apply to such policies - received 2nd reading in the Senate
House
  • H.3666 (G.M. Smith) - defines crisis stabilization unit facility and establishes that such facilities are not subject to the certificate of need process - received 3rd reading in House
  • H.3116 (Crawford) - amends the age of an infant from 60 days to one year old for the purposes of placing infants in a Safe Haven - received 3rd reading in House
  • H.3132 (G.M. Smith) - establishes licensing requirements for hospice programs - received 3rd reading in House
 
 

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  Committee Action  
  Senate General
  • S.447 (Young) - requires health professionals to report to DSS when an infant or fetus is exposed to alcohol or controlled substances - favorable as amended, Senate General Committee
House Judiciary
  • H.3885 (Bannister) - Updates the Lewis Blackmon Hospital Patient Safety Act to add that healthcare practitioners in facilities other than hospitals must comply with identification badge display requirements - favorable as amended, House Judiciary Committee
  • H.3930 (Pitts) - allows for constitutional carry in South Carolina without the requirement of a concealed weapons permit and maintains exclusions for certain locations, including hospitals - favorable as amended, House Judiciary Committee
  • H.3740 (Fry) - requires the defendant in a medical malpractice suit to respond to a Notice of Intent to File Suit within 30-days or the mediation period in the case is dispensed - adjourned debate, House Judiciary Subcommittee
  • H.3817 (Bedingfield) - allows hospitals and clinics with onsite pharmacies and retail pharmacies to register to collect controlled substances as part of take-back events facilitated by DHEC - favorable, House Judiciary subcommittee
  • H.3823 (Henderson) - requires health professionals to report to DSS when an infant or fetus is exposed to alcohol or controlled substances - favorable as amended, House Judiciary subcommittee
House Labor, Commerce, and Industry
  • H.3968 (Sandifer) - requires minimum criminal record background checks for individuals seeking licensure from a professional board to practice their occupation - favorable, House LCI Committee
House 3M
  • H.3487 (Ridgeway) - allows a parent or guardian of a patient who is a child to request or revoke a 'do not resuscitate' order for emergency services - favorable, House 3M Committee
  • H.3824 (Henderson) - requires healthcare practitioners to review a patient's controlled substance prescription history and establishes a penalty is a practitioner fails to do so - favorable as amended, House 3M subcommittee
 
House Ways and Means
 
  • H.3666 (G.M. Smith) - defines crisis stabilization unit facility and establishes that such facilities are not subject to the certificate of need process - favorable as amended, House Ways and Means Committee
 

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  Intros of Interest  
  Patients' Rights
  • H.4013 (G.M. Smith) - adds a person who is authorized by another statute to make health care decisions for an individual to the priority ranking list of individuals who may make healthcare decisions for an adult unable to consent - referred to House Judiciary
Medicaid
  • H.4048 (Herbkersman) - requires DHHS to issue personal emergency response system devices that include a nurse triage component to Medicaid recipients - Introduced and placed on calendar without reference
 
 

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March 24, 2017