Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:481 Primary Sponsor:Saleeby Committee Number:13 Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Nursing home regulations, DHEC Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Medical Affairs Companion Bill Number:3224 Computer Document Number:BR1/1126.AC Introduced Date:Jan 16, 1991 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:Jan 16, 1991 Last History Type:Introduced, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Saleeby Land McConnell Mullinax Pope Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
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481 Senate Jan 16, 1991 Introduced, referred to 13
Committee
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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 Senate, the House of Representatives 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.