Bill 4329

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4329
Ratification Number:            340
Act Number:                     480
Type of Legislation:            Joint Resolution JR
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19960109
Primary Sponsor:                P. Harris
All Sponsors:                   P. Harris, Waldrop, Neilson,
                                Lanford, Inabinett, Keyserling, Hutson,
                                Cain, Shissias, T. Brown, J. Brown,
                                Harvin, Carnell, Rogers, Scott, Meacham,
                                Clyburn 
Drafted Document Number:        pfm\7661ac.96
Companion Bill Number:          980
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19960321
Governor's Action:              U  Became law without signature of
                                Governor
Date of Governor's Action:      19960507
Subject:                        Long-term care, consumer financing
                                of

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19960829  Act No. A480
------  19960507  Unsigned, became law without
                  signature of Governor
------  19960430  Ratified R340
Senate  19960321  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
Senate  19960319  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  19960314  Committee report: Favorable              13 SMA
Senate  19960123  Introduced, read first time,             13 SMA
                  referred to Committee
House   19960119  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19960118  Unanimous consent for third
                  reading on the next Legislative day
House   19960118  Read second time
House   19960117  Committee report: Favorable              27 H3M
House   19960109  Introduced, read first time,             27 H3M
                  referred to Committee
House   19951206  Prefiled, referred to Committee          27 H3M

(A480, R340, H4329)

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON AGING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO EVALUATE AND STUDY OPTIONS FOR CONSUMER FINANCING OF LONG-TERM CARE AND TO REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Whereas, according to the 1990 Census there are approximately four hundred thousand people in South Carolina age sixty-five and over and this population is expected to continue to grow rapidly; and

Whereas, census data predicts that from 1980 to 2000 the number of persons over age seventy-five, the group most likely to need long-term care, will double; and

Whereas, there are currently as many as forty-three thousand homebound, frail elderly who need ongoing assistance with daily living needs and this number grows daily; and

Whereas, of the over eighty-five years of age population, forty-six percent will develop the need for acute care and hospitalization; and

Whereas, from 1965 to 1993, national health care expenditures rose at an annual rate nearly double the growth rate for inflation and these expenditures went from six percent to thirteen percent of the Gross National Product; and

Whereas, according to a study conducted by the Urban Institute, by 2002, South Carolina could face a reduction of approximately thirty percent in Medicaid funding, the primary funding source for public long-term care services; and

Whereas, with the projected dramatic increase in the number of persons over age sixty-five, the varied levels of long-term care needs of this population, and with the volatile nature of public funding for these service needs, it is becoming increasingly more important for individuals to take responsibility for planning and preparing financially for their own long-term care needs. However, the market for this financing is rapidly changing and growing, making it even more difficult for the consumer to make informed choices in planning for long-term care needs. Now, therefore,

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

Study of consumer financing of long-term care

SECTION 1. The Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in conjunction with the Center for Health Policy, Institute of Public Affairs, University of South Carolina, shall identify and study options for consumer financing of long-term care including, but not limited to, long-term care insurance, long-term care insurance public-private partnerships, individual and employer medical savings accounts, life insurance with accelerated death benefits, and the Medicaid Estate Recovery Act. Before January 1, 1997, the committee shall submit to the General Assembly a report of the results of this study, including policy and legislative recommendations and strategies for educating the public about these options and about the need for individuals to take responsibility for preparing financially for their long-term care needs.

Time effective

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Became law without the signature of the Governor -- 5/7/96.