Healthcare

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "CURE ACT" BY ADDING CHAPTER 140 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENTRY OF SOUTH CAROLINA INTO A MULTISTATE COMPACT GOVERNED BY A COMMISSION THAT FACILITATES A PROCESS BY WHICH SUBSTANTIAL CASH PRIZES ARE AWARDED FOR THE CURE OF CERTAIN DISEASES; TO ESTABLISH POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE DUTY TO EXPEDITIOUSLY REVIEW SUBMITTED TREATMENTS AND THERAPEUTIC PROTOCOLS FOR THE CURE OF DISEASE AND TO AWARD PRIZES FOR SUBMISSIONS THAT MEET THE COMMISSION'S STANDARDS; TO ESTABLISH COMMISSION MEETING AND VOTING REQUIREMENTS; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO ADOPT RULES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-937 SO AS TO PROVIDE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS WHO MEET CERTAIN POSTGRADUATE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICE EXPERIENCE MAY PRACTICE PURSUANT ONLY TO AN ATTESTATION STATEMENT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE FUNCTIONS, LOCATIONS, AND COLLABORATION REQUIREMENTS ALLOWED UNDER THESE PRACTICE ARRANGEMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-939 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS LICENSED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS MAY PROVIDE EMERGENCY CARE IN THIS STATE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO LIMIT THEIR LIABILITY FOR PROVIDING SUCH CARE; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-10, RELATING TO THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS, SO AS TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD TO INCLUDE TWO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR MANNER OF APPOINTMENT AND THE FILLING OF VACANCIES, AND TO LIMIT THEIR TERMS OF SERVICE; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE VARIOUS DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-113, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS AND THE PRESCRIBING OF DRUGS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-195, RELATING TO SUPERVISING PHYSICIANS AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE GUIDELINES, SO AS TO REMOVE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON SUPERVISING PHYSICIANS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-196, RELATING TO THE DELEGATION OF TASKS TO CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANTS, SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-910, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-915, RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS STUDENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-935, RELATING TO ACTS AND DUTIES AUTHORIZED TO BE PERFORMED BY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY AND EXPAND THE AUTHORIZED ACTS AND DUTIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-965, RELATING TO REQUIREMENTS FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR DRUGS, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, AND MEDICAL DEVICES BY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-1000, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL HOLDING OF ONESELF OUT AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL USE OF CERTAIN ABBREVIATIONS INDICATIVE OF LICENSURE AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-1005, RELATING TO MISCONDUCT MANDATING REVOCATION OR DENIAL OF A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSE, SO AS TO SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO DISCIPLINE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS FOR MISCONDUCT, TO REVISE THE BASES FOR MISCONDUCT, AND TO PROVIDE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD UPON FINDING MISCONDUCT; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-1020, RELATING TO THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, SO AS TO MAKE SUCH PAYMENTS MANDATORY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO PROVIDE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THIRD-PARTY PAYERS MAY NOT IMPOSE MORE RESTRICTIVE OR CONTRADICTORY PRACTICE, EDUCATION, OR COLLABORATION REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-80-120, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO CREATE, EXECUTE, AND SIGN POST FORMS, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE SCOPE OF PRACTICE AND SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-99-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING EMERGENCY ANAPHYLAXIS TREATMENTS, SO AS TO REMOVE OBSOLETE LANGUAGE; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-75, RELATING TO CONCUSSION PROTOCOL FOR STUDENT ATHLETES, SO AS TO INCLUDE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AMONG PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO REMOVE STUDENT ATHLETES SUSPECTED OF HAVING SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION FROM COMPETITION, AND TO REMOVE OBSOLETE LANGUAGE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-63-95, RELATING TO THE PRESCRIPTION OF LIFESAVING MEDICATIONS TO BE MAINTAINED AND USED BY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-48 SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS, TO REQUIRE ALL HEALTH INSURANCE AND GROUP HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS TO COVER HEARING AIDS AND REPLACEMENT HEARING AIDS FOR INSUREDS WITH IMPAIRED HEARING, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SCOPE OF COVERAGE, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-268 SO AS TO REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN PLAN OF CARE AND OTHER INFORMATION TO A PATIENT'S FAMILY.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-30, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-43-245 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE PHARMACISTS AND PHYSICIANS TO ENTER INTO COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PHYSICIANS AND MISCELLANEOUS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-205 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE PHYSICIANS AND PHARMACISTS TO ENTER INTO COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY AND THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS AND TO PROVIDE THAT COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS MAY NOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL AFTER THE REGULATIONS ARE EFFECTIVE. - RATIFIED TITLE

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-33-31 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD OF NURSING MAY GRANT FULL PRACTICE AUTHORITY TO ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOARD, AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-33-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND OTHER REVISIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-33-34, RELATING TO ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, PRACTICE AGREEMENTS, ALLOWED MEDICAL ACTS, AND PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND OTHER CHANGES; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-33-42, RELATING TO DELEGATION OF TASKS TO UNLICENSED ASSISTIVE PERSONNEL, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 40-33-110, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE OF LICENSEES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "HONOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-300 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP HEALTH PLAN MUST PROVIDE COVERAGE UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO THE SPOUSE OR DEPENDENT OF A FIRST RESPONDER COVERED BY SUCH A PLAN IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY AMENDING SECTION 1-3-470, RELATING TO LOWERING FLAGS UPON DEATH IN THE LINE OF DUTY, SO AS TO ADD AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-1172 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A FIRST RESPONDER RETIREMENT INCOME DEDUCTION; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-6-1170, RELATING TO THE RETIREMENT INCOME TAX DEDUCTION, SO AS TO MAKE A CONFORMING CHANGE; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-37-220, RELATING TO GENERAL EXEMPTION FROM TAXES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A QUALIFIED SURVIVING SPOUSE ALSO MEANS CERTAIN SURVIVING SPOUSES OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-111-110, RELATING TO WAIVED TUITION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHILDREN OF CERTAIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ALSO QUALIFY FOR CERTAIN WAIVED TUITION.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-6-230 SO AS TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM COMPENSATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DIRECT CARE WORKERS PROVIDING PERSONAL CARE SERVICES THROUGH MEDICAID HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS AND TO PROVIDE FOR PHASED IN UPWARD ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COMPENSATION PAID.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 20 TO CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44 SO AS TO TITLE THE ARTICLE "NON-OPIOID TREATMENTS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT," TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLET BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REGARDING NON-OPIOID ALTERNATIVES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PAIN, AND TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR PRACTITIONERS OFFERING NON-OPIOID TREATMENT.

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-262(A), RELATING TO MINIMUM RESIDENT-STAFF RATIOS FOR NURSING HOMES, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE DIVISION OF MEMORY CARE FACILITIES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND TO REQUIRE SUFFICIENT STAFF TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE CARE FOR THE RESIDENTS.