S*1120(Rat #0351, Act #0260 of 2004)  General Bill, By Moore
 AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 7, CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH
 CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RECOGNITION AND DESIGNATION OF FEDERALLY
 QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND RURAL HEALTH CLINICS, SO AS TO ADD RURAL
 HOSPITALS TO THIS RECOGNITION AND DESIGNATION AND TO DEFINE RURAL HOSPITALS. -
 ratified title

   03/31/04  Senate Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
                     without reference SJ-12
   04/01/04         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/06/04  Senate Read second time SJ-30
   04/07/04  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-24
   04/13/04  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-17
   04/13/04  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-17
   05/12/04  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-8
   05/19/04  House  Read second time HJ-41
   05/20/04  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-48
   06/02/04         Ratified R 351
   07/06/04         Signed By Governor
   07/13/04         Copies available
   07/13/04         Effective date 07/06/04
   07/14/04         Act No. 260

(A260, R351, S1120)

AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 7, CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE RECOGNITION AND DESIGNATION OF FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND RURAL HEALTH CLINICS, SO AS TO ADD RURAL HOSPITALS TO THIS RECOGNITION AND DESIGNATION AND TO DEFINE RURAL HOSPITALS.

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

Federally Qualified Health Centers

SECTION    1.    Article 7, Chapter 6, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Article 7

Section 44-6-910.    (A)    Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC's), Rural Health Clinics (RHC's), and Rural Hospitals are recognized and designated as essential community providers for underserved patients which include Medicaid and Medicare recipients, the underinsured, and the uninsured. These populations require more extensive services by community-based providers, and the FQHC's, RHC's, and Rural Hospitals have extensive experience and knowledge in providing quality, cost-effective care for these populations. The State shall include these essential community providers as contracted entities in any formulation of the state health care system. The inclusion of FQHC's, RHC's, and Rural Hospitals as contracted entities in the state health care system recognizes the importance of these providers to South Carolina and assures that the reimbursement to these essential community providers will be funded through cost-based reimbursement or a capitated fee based on reasonable costs.

(B)    A hospital located in an urban area (MSA County), can be considered 'rural' for the purposes of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program if it meets the following criteria:

(1)    enrolled as both a Medicaid and Medicare provider and accepts assignment for all Medicaid and Medicare patients;

(2)    provides emergency health care services to indigent patients;

(3)    maintains a twenty-four hour emergency room;

(4)    staffs fifty or less acute care beds; and

(5)    located in a county with twenty-five percent or more rural residents, as defined by the most recent United States decennial census."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 2nd day of June, 2004.

Approved the 6th day of July, 2004.