H*4116(Rat #0249, Act #0211 of 2018)  General Bill, By Ridgeway, Douglas, 
Spires, G.M. Smith, Clemmons, Tallon and Cole
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 40-47-38 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED
 TO REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO SECURE MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATIONS AS A CONDITION
 OF LICENSURE, REIMBURSEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT HOSPITALS
 OR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS IN THIS STATE; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY
 TERMS. - ratified title

   04/06/17  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 54)
   04/06/17  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 54)
   05/03/17  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Clemmons
   02/21/18  House  Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 3)
   02/22/18  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Tallon, Cole
   02/22/18  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 25)
   02/22/18  House  Roll call Yeas-99  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 26)
   02/22/18  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (House Journal-page 27)
   02/23/18  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 2)
   02/27/18  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)
   02/27/18  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
                     (Senate Journal-page 8)
   03/15/18  Senate Committee report: Favorable Medical Affairs
                     (Senate Journal-page 13)
   03/16/18         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/29/18  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 47)
   03/29/18  Senate Roll call Ayes-39  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 47)
   04/17/18  Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 12)
   04/17/18  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 12)
   04/17/18  Senate Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 12)
   04/19/18  House  Debate adjourned until Tues., 4-24-18
                     (House Journal-page 52)
   04/25/18  House  Senate amendment amended (House Journal-page 72)
   04/25/18  House  Roll call Yeas-98  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 73)
   04/25/18  House  Returned to Senate with amendments
                     (House Journal-page 72)
   05/10/18  Senate Concurred in House amendment and enrolled
                     (Senate Journal-page 54)
   05/10/18  Senate Roll call Ayes-40  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 54)
   05/14/18         Ratified R 249
   05/18/18         Signed By Governor
   05/25/18         Effective date 05/18/18
   05/31/18         Act No. 211

(A211, R249, H4116)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-38 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE PHYSICIANS TO SECURE MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATIONS AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE, REIMBURSEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT HOSPITALS OR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS IN THIS STATE; AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

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

Not required for licensure, reimbursement, employment or admitting privileges

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 47, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 40-47-38.    (A)    No provision of this article may be construed to require a physician to secure a Maintenance of Certification as a condition of:

(1)    licensure;

(2)    reimbursement;

(3)    employment; or

(4)    admitting privileges at a hospital or federally qualified health center in this State.

(B)    For the purposes of this article:

(1)    'Federally qualified health center' or 'FQHC' means a health center that receives a federal public health services grant under the Public Health Services Act, 42 U.S.C. 254b, as amended, or another health center designated by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration as a federally qualified health center.

(2)    'Maintenance of Certification' or 'MOC' means a continuing education program that measures core competencies in the practice of medicine and surgery and is approved by a nationally recognized accrediting organization."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 14th day of May, 2018.

Approved the 18th day of May, 2018.