H 3616 General Bill, By Meacham, Allison, Battle, Bowers, G. Brown, Carnell, 
Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, J.L.M. Cromer, Davenport, Gamble, Gourdine, 
Govan, J. Hines, Hinson, J.H. Hodges, Howard, Inabinett, Keegan, Kelley, Kirsh, 
Klauber, Lanford, Law, Leach, Lee, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Mack, Maddox, Martin, 
McKay, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, V.T. Mullen, Neilson, Parks, Pinckney, Riser, 
Robinson, Rodgers, Sandifer, Seithel, Simrill, Spearman, Vaughn, Whipper and 
Young-Brickell
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 38-71-125 SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES
 AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING FOR HOSPITALIZATION FOR
 MASTECTOMIES SHALL PROVIDE FOR HOSPITALIZATION FOR AT LEAST FORTY-EIGHT HOURS
 IF CONSIDERED MEDICALLY NECESSARY BY THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AND PROVIDE FOR
 RELATED MATTERS.

   03/11/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-3
   03/11/97  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-4

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-125 SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING FOR HOSPITALIZATION FOR MASTECTOMIES SHALL PROVIDE FOR HOSPITALIZATION FOR AT LEAST FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IF CONSIDERED MEDICALLY NECESSARY BY THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 38-71-125. All individual and group health insurance policies and health maintenance organizations providing for hospitalization for mastectomies shall provide for hospitalization for at least forty-eight hours, if considered medically necessary by the attending physician. Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit an attending physician from releasing the patient before the expiration date provided, if approved by the attending physician. If the patient is released before the forty-eight hours, a home health visit must be provided if ordered by the attending physician."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect one hundred eighty days after approval by the Governor.