South Carolina Legislature


1976 South Carolina Code of Laws
Unannotated
Updated through the end of the 2014 Session

DISCLAIMER

The South Carolina Legislative Council is offering access to the unannotated South Carolina Code of Laws on the Internet as a service to the public. The unannotated South Carolina Code on the General Assembly's website is now current through the 2014 session. The unannotated South Carolina Code, consisting only of Code text, numbering, and history, may be copied from this website at the reader's expense and effort without need for permission.

The Legislative Council is unable to assist users of this service with legal questions. Also, legislative staff cannot respond to requests for legal advice or the application of the law to specific facts. Therefore, to understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult your own private lawyer regarding all legal questions.

While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the unannotated South Carolina Code available on the South Carolina General Assembly's website, the unannotated South Carolina Code is not official, and the state agencies preparing this website and the General Assembly are not responsible for any errors or omissions which may occur in these files. Only the current published volumes of the South Carolina Code of Laws Annotated and any pertinent acts and joint resolutions contain the official version.

Please note that the Legislative Council is not able to respond to individual inquiries regarding research or the features, format, or use of this website. However, you may notify the Legislative Services Agency at [email protected] regarding any apparent errors or omissions in content of Code sections on this website, in which case LSA will relay the information to appropriate staff members of the South Carolina Legislative Council for investigation.


Title 44 - Health

CHAPTER 71

Licensure of Hospice Programs

SECTION 44-71-10. Short title.

This chapter may be cited as the "Hospice Licensure Act".

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 1.

SECTION 44-71-20. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control.

(2) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

(3) "Hospice" means a centrally administered, interdisciplinary health care program. This program must provide a continuum of medically supervised palliative and supportive care for the terminally ill patient and the family including, but not limited to, outpatient and inpatient services provided directly or through written agreement. Inpatient services include, but are not limited to, services provided by a hospice in a licensed hospice facility.

Admission to a hospice program of care is based on the voluntary request of the hospice patient alone or in conjunction with designated family members.

(4) "Hospice facility" means an institution, place, or building in which a licensed hospice provides room, board, and appropriate hospice services on a twenty-four hour basis to individuals requiring hospice care pursuant to the orders of a physician.

(5) "Licensee" means the individual, corporation, or public entity with whom rests the ultimate responsibility for maintaining approved standards for the hospice or hospice facility.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 2; 2000 Act No. 248, Section 4.

SECTION 44-71-30. License for operation of hospice.

No person, private or public organization, political subdivision, or other governmental agency may establish, conduct, or maintain a hospice or represent itself as a hospice without first obtaining a license from the department. This license is effective for a twelve-month period following the date of issue and must prescribe by county the geographic area authorized to be served. A license issued under this chapter is not assignable or transferable and is subject to suspension or revocation at any time for failure to comply with this chapter.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 3.

SECTION 44-71-40. Application for license.

A person desiring to obtain a license must file with the department an application on a form prescribed, prepared, and furnished by the department.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 4.

SECTION 44-71-50. Fees.

The department is authorized to establish reasonable fees to be used in the administration of the program.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 5.

SECTION 44-71-60. Regulations.

The department shall promulgate regulations which define needs, services, and standards for the care, treatment, health, safety, welfare, and comfort of patients and their families served by hospices and for the maintenance and operation of hospices, including hospice facilities, which will promote safe and adequate care and treatment of the patients and their families.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 6; 2000 Act No. 248, Section 5.

SECTION 44-71-65. Hospice to comply with department regulations; not subject to nursing home or community residential care facility licensure and regulation.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a hospice facility must comply with the regulations promulgated by the department pursuant to this chapter and is not subject to regulations pertaining to the licensure and regulation of nursing homes or community residential care facilities.

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 248, Section 1.

SECTION 44-71-70. Authority to issue, deny, suspend or revoke licenses.

The department is authorized to issue, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to this section. Such regulations must include hearing procedures related to denial, suspension, or revocation of licenses.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 7.

SECTION 44-71-80. Annual inspections.

Each hospice for which a license has been issued must be inspected by an authorized representative of the department at least once a year for the purpose of ensuring that the provisions of this chapter are being followed.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 8.

SECTION 44-71-90. Discrimination prohibited.

Hospices must not discriminate based on age, sex, race, color, religion, or source of payment, location of patient, acceptance or provision of goods and services to patients of potential patients.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 9.

SECTION 44-71-95. Hospice services by health care facility.

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit a health care facility from providing hospice services through contractual arrangements with a licensed hospice operation.

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 248, Section 2.

SECTION 44-71-100. Rebates, kickbacks and fee-splitting prohibited.

Hospices may not participate in, or offer, or imply an offer to participate in the practice known generally as rebate, kickbacks, or fee-splitting arrangements.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 10.

SECTION 44-71-110. Penalties.

Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisoned for a period not to exceed six months or both.

HISTORY: 1983 Act No. 13 Section 11.




Legislative Services Agency
h t t p : / / w w w . s c s t a t e h o u s e . g o v