Rep. HERBKERSMAN proposes the following Amendment No. to H.5150 as Passed By The House

(Doc Name h:\legwork\house\amend\h-wm\001\h2-broadband and telehealth digital literacy.docx):

EXPLANATION: Establish pilot for telehealth capabilities.

Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 33, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, page 366, after line 21, by adding an appropriately numbered proviso to read:

/ (DHHS: Broadband and Telehealth Digital Literacy) With funds available to the Department of Health and Human Services, the department shall partner with a member of the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance that has relevant expertise for no less than $500,000 to establish a pilot program that leverages telehealth capabilities to improve the health status and condition of other social determinants for rural or other underserved segments of the Medicaid beneficiary population to be identified by the department. Implemented through grant or contract at the department's discretion, the pilot program shall:

(1)offer digital devices and digital inclusion training for specific categories of Medicaid beneficiaries in one or more communities to be identified by the department;

(2)make Medicaid beneficiaries aware of the eligibility criteria for the Federal Communications Commission's Lifeline program and of the benefits available to them through this program, and if appropriate, support outreach and enrollment; and

(3)result in the development of a report, which shall be provided to the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, that uses survey and/or other comparable data to explain why many eligible Medicaid members have not previously enrolled for Lifeline, along with findings or recommendations as to how these obstacles may be overcome in the future. /

Amend totals and titles to conform.