S 1357 General Bill, By Moore
Similar (H 4850)
Summary: Small Business Health and Rural Health Care Assistance Act
    A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 TO CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SMALL BUSINESS AND RURAL HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE ACT" AND TO ESTABLISH THE SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AT OR UNDER TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE UP TO FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE PREMIUM COST, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROGRAM MUST BE FUNDED FROM A PORTION OF A USER FEE OF 1.95 CENTS PER CIGARETTE, WHICH MUST BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR A MEDICAID WAIVER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE MEDICAID COVERAGE TO CHILDREN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER WHOSE FAMILY INCOMES DO NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL; TO CREATE THE MEDICAID MATCH FUND INTO WHICH A PORTION OF THE USER FEE ON CIGARETTES MUST BE DEPOSITED; AND TO ADD SECTION 12-21-630 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A 1.95 CENT USER FEE ON EACH CIGARETTE TO FUND THE SMALL BUSINESS AND RURAL HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF THIS USER FEE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
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04/18/06	Senate	Introduced and read first time SJ-7
04/18/06	Senate	Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-7