Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:690 Primary Sponsor:Land Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Doctors, to practice in rural areas Date Bill Passed both Bodies:Mar 20, 1991 Computer Document Number:436/11296.DW Introduced Date:Feb 20, 1991 Last History Body:House Last History Date:Mar 20, 1991 Last History Type:Adopted, returned with concurrence Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Land Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN ---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ --- 690 House Mar 20, 1991 Adopted, returned with concurrence 690 House Mar 06, 1991 Committee Report: Favorable 24 690 House Feb 26, 1991 Introduced, referred to 24 Committee 690 Senate Feb 21, 1991 Adopted, sent to House 690 Senate Feb 20, 1991 Introduced, placed on Calendar without referenceView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
ADOPTED
March 20, 1991
S. 690
S. Printed 3/20/91--S.
Read the first time February 20, 1991.
TO MEMORIALIZE CONGRESS TO MAKE FEDERALLY- FUNDED MEDICAL PAYMENTS EQUALIZED FOR EQUAL TREATMENT AT ALL MEDICAL FACILITIES ELIGIBLE FOR THESE PAYMENTS SO AS TO ENCOURAGE MORE DOCTORS TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN RURAL AREAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Amend Title To Conform
Whereas, more than fifty percent of the people in rural counties have not graduated from high school; and
Whereas, in rural areas the number of citizens living in the poverty range is from eleven to more than thirty-two percent; and
Whereas, up to thirty-three percent of the population is under thirteen years of age in these areas; and
Whereas, up to twelve and five-tenths percent of the people in rural counties are over sixty-five years of age; and
Whereas, as a result of the poverty, lower educational levels, and ages of the rural residents, incidences of chronic diseases and general health problems are more prevalent; and
Whereas, Medicare is a federally-funded program created to care for persons sixty-five years and older; and
Whereas, Medicare has not kept up with hospital inflation rates; and
Whereas, while all hospitals face losses created by Medicare payments, the problem is exacerbated in rural hospitals which are paid an average of thirty to forty percent less than urban counterparts for similar cases; and
Whereas, this underfunding has significantly impacted budgets of rural hospitals. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly memorialize Congress to make federally-funded medical payments equalized for equal treatment at all medical facilities eligible for these payments so as to encourage more doctors to practice medicine in rural areas in South Carolina.
Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.