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McMaster Supports Expanding APRN Scope of Practice in Rural Communities
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Governor McMaster, along with Senator Tom Davis and Representative Gary Clary, held a press conference Wednesday announcing support for legislation to increase access to healthcare services in rural areas of South Carolina. The press conference specifically focused on S.345, which amends the supervision requirements for advance practice registered nurses (APRNs), which was discussed in a subcommittee hearing immediately following the press conference. As amended, the bill requires new graduates of a master's level or higher nursing program to be supervised directly by a physician for at least 2,000 hours. After that, the provider would be able to practice autonomously within a collaborative practice, as long as they serve in rural, medically underserved communities.
As amended, the bill received a favorable report from the Medical Affairs subcommittee. Additional amendments are expected on the legislation as nursing groups meet with physicians and other stakeholders.
SCHA sent a letter to Governor McMaster in support of proposals that improve population health in South Carolina. A copy of the letter can be found here. We look forward to working with other healthcare providers to find solutions to healthcare issues facing our state.
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In Other News
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- A budget deal reached in Congress to re-open the federal government after a brief shutdown Friday morning includes an additional four years of funding for CHIP on top of the six years of funding in the previous spending bill, a delay of the DSH cuts for two years, $6 billion for opioid crisis and mental health services, an extension of Medicare payment adjustments for rural communities, and a repeal of the Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). The deal did not include a solution for DACA recipients or immigration. The new budget deal funds the government through March 23.
- A subcommittee of the House 3M Committee met Wednesday morning to debate behavioral health bills. Of particular interest was H.4603 (Henderson), which would limit the prescription length for initial prescriptions of opioid or similar pain medications on a patient's first encounter. SCHA had specific concerns with the legislation, not because we oppose the intention, but because we are wary of putting medical policy into statute. The subcommittee directed the Board of Medical Examiners, Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, and others involved in the joint pain management guidelines to come back to the subcommittee with recommendations in six weeks.
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Committee Action
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- S.345 (Davis) - expands the scope of practice for certain nursing professionals - favorable as amended, Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee
- H.4603 (Bedingfield) - limits initial prescriptions of opioids for acute pain management of post-operative pain management to a five-day supply, with exceptions - adjourned debate, House 3M subcommittee
- H.4492 (Spires): Changes dosage limitations for certain prescribed controlled substances - favorable, House 3M subcommittee
- H.4643 (Thayer) - establishes that a direct primary care agreement is not a contract of insurance and is not subject to regulation by the Department of Insurance - favorable as amended, House LCI Committee
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Intros of Interest
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- S.962 (Alexander) - provides criteria and licensure requirements for addiction counselors through LLR - referred to Senate LCI Committee
- S.973 (Young) - a resolution to recognize the third week of April as "Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week" to raise awareness and commend hospitals and others that educate parents on how to protect children - adopted, sent to House
- S.975 (Shealy) - a resolution to recognize February as American Heart Month and promote heart disease awareness - referred to Senate Medical Affairs Committee
- H.4800 (Rutherford) - authorizes local government to impose a community charge on nonprofit hospitals and institutions of higher learning with more than $1 billion in gross proceeds in the preceding year - referred to House 3M Committee
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February 9, 2018
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