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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "MEDICAID EXPANSION ACT" BY ADDING SECTION 44-6-120 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT, IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, AN ADULT UNDER THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE YEARS WHOSE INCOME IS AT OR BELOW ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL IS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF CERTAIN FUNDS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO FACILITATE THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID TO THIS POPULATION, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE COVERAGE OF HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH TELEMEDICINE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Medicaid Expansion Act".
SECTION 2. Article 1, Chapter 6, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 44-6-120. (A)(1) As of the effective date of this act, in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the department shall provide Medicaid coverage to all people under the age of sixty-five years who have incomes equal to or less than one hundred thirty-eight percent of the federal poverty guidelines, as authorized pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The medical assistance provided to persons in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act expansion group shall consist of the coverage described in 42 U.S.C. Section 1396a(k)(1).
(2) The General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient funds to the department for the administrative costs associated with the Medicaid expansion required by item (1) for the current fiscal year. These funds must include any state match necessary to ensure access to available federal funding, and those federal funds are hereby appropriated to pay administrative costs associated with the Medicaid expansion required by item (1).
(3) Beginning with the 2020-2021 general appropriations act, the General Assembly shall appropriate to the department sufficient recurring funds to pay for any costs associated with Medicaid expansion pursuant to this section, including a state match for any available federal funds.
(B) The department shall ensure that any available Medicaid health insurance plan in this State provides coverage for a service delivered through telemedicine if the health care service would be covered if provided through in-person consultation between the patient and the health care provider. Coverage for health care services provided through telemedicine must be determined in a manner consistent with coverage for health care services provided through in-person consultation and must be consistent statewide, regardless of where the patient is receiving the service."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on May 12, 2020 at 4:41 PM