Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:3224 Primary Sponsor:McElveen Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Nursing home regulations Companion Bill Number:481 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:Mar 17, 1992 Computer Document Number:BR1/1137.AC Introduced Date:Jan 17, 1991 Last History Body:House Last History Date:Mar 17, 1992 Last History Type:Received from Senate Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:McElveen Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN ---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ --- 3224 House Mar 17, 1992 Received from Senate 3224 Senate Mar 17, 1992 Adopted, returned with concurrence 3224 Senate Mar 10, 1992 Committee Report: Favorable 13 3224 Senate Feb 13, 1991 Introduced, referred to 13 Committee 3224 House Feb 12, 1991 Adopted, sent to Senate 3224 House Feb 05, 1991 Debate adjourned until Thursday, February 7 3224 House Jan 30, 1991 Committee Report: Favorable 24 3224 House Jan 17, 1991 Introduced, referred to 24 CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 10, 1992
H. 3224
S. Printed 3/10/92--S.
Read the first time February 13, 1991.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 3224), to recommend that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control amend sections, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
WARREN K. GIESE, for Committee.
TO RECOMMEND THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AMEND SECTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S NURSING HOME REGULATIONS.
Whereas, there is a shortage of nursing home beds to meet the need of our citizens requiring long-term care; and
Whereas, to help meet this need some hospitals are converting portions of their facilities to nursing homes or utilizing the swing bed program; and
Whereas, hospital standards concerning certain nursing requirements and bed requirements are more stringent than nursing home standards; and
Whereas, the application of hospital standards to hospital-based nursing homes is more costly than applying nursing home standards and is not required to comply with federal law; and
Whereas, it would be beneficial to the overall reduction of health care costs in South Carolina to modify hospital-based nursing home standards. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is recommended to amend its nursing home regulations to create a new set of staffing standards for distinct part or hospital-based nursing homes utilizing nursing hours a patient day instead of the nurses' nursing station and bed capacity standard that currently exists to include the following:
(1) A registered nurse must be on duty for at least eight consecutive hours a day, seven days a week. This minimum is required by OBRA-1987 (not tied to bed capacity).
(2) The nursing facility will provide licensed nurses on a twenty-four hour basis, in any RN and LPN combination (not allocated to station but to total facility).
(3) The number of total nursing personnel (including aides, orderlies, and licensed nurses) on duty in addition to the Director of Nursing during a twenty-four hour period shall provide at least two and one-tenth hours of care a patient day. Increments of additional staff will be required only when FTE calculation exceeds fifty percent of a FTE adjustment.
(4) Allocations of staff by shift must be evaluated by the Director of Nursing to assure that residents' health, safety, and personal care needs are met.