South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 1120

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED

April 15, 2010

S. 1120

Introduced by Senators Lourie, Pinckney, Williams, Leventis, Anderson, Land and Sheheen

S. Printed 4/15/10--S.

Read the first time January 28, 2010.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-1360 SO AS TO PROHIBIT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM ENGAGING IN DEBT COLLECTION ACTIVITIES RELATING TO MEDICAL TREATMENT RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION OF A VICTIM OF CRIME UNTIL AN AWARD IS MADE OR A CLAIM IS DENIED AND TO STAY THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR THE COLLECTION OF THIS DEBT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1. Article 13, Chapter 3, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-3-1360.    (A)    When a person files a claim pursuant to this article, a health care provider that has received written notice of a pending claim is prohibited from all debt collection activities relating to medical and psychological treatment received by the person in connection with the claim until an award is made on the claim or the claim is determined to be non-compensable and is denied. The statute of limitations for collection of the debt is suspended during the period in which the applicable health care provider is required to refrain from debt collection activities.

(B)    For purposes of this section, 'debt collection activities' means repeatedly calling or writing to the claimant and threatening to turn the matter over to a debt collection agency or to an attorney for collection, enforcement, or filing of other process. The term does not include routine billing or inquiries about the status of the claim."

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

----XX----

This web page was last updated on April 15, 2010 at 4:03 PM