Committee Report

April 25, 2024

 

S. 558

 

Introduced by Senators Verdin and Senn

 

S. Printed 04/25/24--H.

Read the first time February 14, 2024

 

________

 

The committee on House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 558) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 44-31-40 so as to provide the procedure for the tuberculosis testing of applicant residents and newly, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

S.H. DAVIS for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill requires a nursing home, prior to the admission of a new resident, to request and receive a written declaration from an authorized healthcare provider that the applicant resident has no signs or symptoms of active tuberculosis.  Additionally, if the applicant resident is admitted directly from a hospital, the nursing home must administer the first and second steps of a tuberculin skin test to the resident within three and fourteen days, respectively.  The nursing home may substitute a single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis for a two-step tuberculin skin test, or it may administer a single tuberculin skin test or single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis within fourteen days of the resident's admission from a hospital if the nursing home has documentation that within the twelve-month period prior to admission, the resident obtained a negative tuberculin skin test or a negative single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis.

 

Department of Health and Environmental Control.  DHEC is the state agency responsible for licensing nursing homes.  This bill will have no expenditure impact on DHEC since it does not operationally or fiscally affect the agency.

 

Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS houses Healthy Connections, the state's Medicaid program. This bill will not impact Medicaid provider rates or reimbursements. Therefore, this bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency.

 

Department of Mental Health. DMH uses a statewide network of community mental health centers, clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes to provide medical and support services. DMH currently performs the practices listed in this bill. Therefore, this bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency.

 

Department of Veterans' Affairs. DVA is responsible for serving veterans and their families. Nursing homes are not in the portfolio of DVA. Therefore, this bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 44-31-40 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR THE TUBERCULOSIS TESTING OF APPLICANT RESIDENTS AND NEWLY ADMITTED RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES IN THIS STATE.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 31, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 44-31-40.  (A) A nursing home or community residential care facility as defined in Section 44-7-130 shall:

       (1) prior to the admission of a new resident, request and receive a written declaration from an authorized healthcare provider that, based upon medical examination of the applicant resident, the applicant resident has no signs or symptoms of active tuberculosis;

       (2) within three days of a resident's admission to the nursing home or community residential care facility from a hospital, as defined in Section 44-7-130, administer the first step of the two-step tuberculin skin test to the resident; and

       (3) within fourteen days of that resident's admission, administer the second step of the tuberculin skin test to the resident.

    (B)(1) The nursing home or community residential care facility may substitute a single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis for a two-step tuberculin skin test; or

       (2) administer a single tuberculin skin test or single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis within fourteen days of the resident's admission from a hospital if the nursing home or community residential care facility has documentation that within the twelve-month period prior to admission, the resident obtained a negative tuberculin skin test or a negative single blood assay for mycobacterium tuberculosis.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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