South Carolina General Assembly
122nd Session, 2017-2018

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Indicates New Matter

H. 4048

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Herbkersman, G.M. Smith and White
Document Path: l:\council\bills\cc\15074vr17.docx

Introduced in the House on March 23, 2017
Introduced in the Senate on March 29, 2017
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Medical Affairs

Summary: Personal emergency response systems

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3/23/2017  House   Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar without 
                        reference (House Journal-page 32)
   3/28/2017  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 59)
   3/28/2017  House   Roll call Yeas-109  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 60)
   3/29/2017  House   Read third time and sent to Senate 
                        (House Journal-page 12)
   3/29/2017  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 15)
   3/29/2017  Senate  Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs 
                        (Senate Journal-page 15)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

3/23/2017
3/23/2017-A

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

INTRODUCED

March 23, 2017

H. 4048

Introduced by Reps. Herbkersman, G.M. Smith and White

S. Printed 3/23/17--H.

Read the first time March 23, 2017.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-6-55 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ISSUE PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM (PERS) DEVICES TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS THAT INCLUDE A NURSE TRIAGE COMPONENT.

Whereas, the Department of Health and Human Services issues personal emergency response system (PERS) devices to select Medicaid recipients pursuant to a Medicaid Home and Community-based waiver; and

Whereas, the current PERS device the department issues provides recipients with twenty-four hour monitoring and live phone contact for emergencies; and

Whereas, although PERS emergency response services are intended to respond to true emergency situations, it is not uncommon for a recipient to be transported by ambulance to a hospital emergency room for a nonemergency condition when an emergency response is the only available PERS option; and

Whereas, at many times in our communities there are outbreaks of dangerous and highly contagious diseases and conditions and sending a Medicaid recipient to the emergency room for a nonemergency condition can potentially expose the recipient, who likely is a high health risk, to potentially life threatening conditions and diseases. Having the ability to assess nonemergency situations by having access to a nurse triage service is an invaluable health consideration for Medicaid recipients as well as for the State; and

Whereas, it has been demonstrated that if a person is able to speak with a health care professional who can medically assess the person's situation and provide assistance, the person is less likely to utilize emergency room care and more likely to be able to manage a nonemergency situation in the home; and

Whereas, some PERS devices provide twenty-four hour live phone access to experienced nursing personnel, comparable in cost to emergency response PERS devices, which allow a person to consult with a nurse about the person's medical concern, possible solutions, and available options, including in-home management of the situation, if appropriate, likely producing a more efficient and effective result. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 6, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 44-6-55.    (A)(1)    The Department of Health and Human Services shall issue, pursuant to its Medicaid Home and Community-based waiver, Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) devices to Medicaid recipients that include, in addition to emergency response services, unlimited twenty-four hour, seven-day a week live phone contact with experienced registered nurses for triage services.

(2)    A PERS nurse triage call center must be accredited and must be separate from the PERS emergency response call center.

(B)    A PERS device, as provided for in subsection (A), must have a wireless radio transmitter and a console that is cellular and does not require a traditional land line.

(C)    A PERS device that includes nurse triage services also must:

(1)    comply with the requirements of Federal Communications Commission rules, 47 C.F.R. Part 68; and

(2)    be Underwriters Laboratory or Equipment Testing Laboratories-approved as a health care signaling product."

SECTION    2.    The Department of Health and Human Services shall apply for any waiver necessary under the department's Medicaid Home and Community-based waiver to implement the provisions of this act.

SECTION    3.    This act applies to Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) devices initially issued by the Department of Health and Human Services to Medicaid recipients, pursuant to the department's Medicaid Home and Community-based waiver, on or after the waiver's effective date and to Medicaid recipients for whom it is necessary to replace their previously issued PERS devices on or after the waiver's effective date.

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on March 31, 2017 at 10:07 AM