South Carolina General Assembly
111th Session, 1995-1996

Bill 4649


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4649
Ratification Number:            429
Act Number:                     352
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19960221
Primary Sponsor:                Shissias
All Sponsors:                   Shissias, Neal, Howard, Jennings,
                                Hutson, J. Harris, Walker, Limehouse,
                                White, Wright, Stille, Keyserling, Koon,
                                McElveen, Davenport, Waldrop, McMahand,
                                Gamble, Worley, Thomas, Richardson and
                                Riser
Drafted Document Number:        pfm\7943ac.96
Companion Bill Number:          1295
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19960516
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19960529
Subject:                        Central Cancer Registry Act

History



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

------  19960606  Act No. A352
------  19960529  Signed by Governor
------  19960523  Ratified R429
Senate  19960516  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
Senate  19960515  Read second time
Senate  19960515  Recalled from Committee                  13 SMA
Senate  19960416  Introduced, read first time,             13 SMA
                  referred to Committee
House   19960412  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19960411  Unanimous consent for third
                  reading on the next Legislative day
House   19960411  Read second time
House   19960410  Committee report: Favorable              27 H3M
House   19960221  Introduced, read first time,             27 H3M
                  referred to Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A352, R429, H4649)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 44, CHAPTER 35, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CANCER, TO ENACT THE CENTRAL CANCER REGISTRY ACT, SO AS TO CREATE THE SOUTH CAROLINA CENTRAL CANCER REGISTRY AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS PURPOSE, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND CONFIDENTIALITY; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO PROVIDE AID TO ANY CANCER PATIENT RATHER THAN TO INDIGENT PATIENTS; AND TO ESTABLISH THE CANCER CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROVIDE FOR ITS POWERS AND DUTIES.

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

Act citation

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Central Cancer Registry Act".

Central cancer registry and advisory committee created; purpose, duties, reporting procedures

SECTION 2. Title 44, Chapter 35 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"CHAPTER 35

Cancer

Section 44-35-5. Sections 44-35-10 through 44-35-100 may be cited as the Central Cancer Registry.

Section 44-35-10. The Department of Health and Environmental Control, in conjunction with hospitals and entities throughout the State, shall formulate a plan for cancer prevention, detection, and surveillance programs and for care of persons suffering from cancer to meet standards of care set forth by nationally recognized and approved accrediting bodies.

Section 44-35-20. (A) There is established the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry and, to the extent funds are available, the Department of Health and Environmental Control shall administer this as a statewide population-based registry of cancer cases with a diagnosis date after December 31, 1995.

(B) The purpose of the registry is to provide statistical information that will reduce morbidity and mortality of cancer in South Carolina. This information must be used to guide cancer control effort in the State by assisting in prevention and early detection of cancer, extending the life of the cancer patient, identifying high-risk groups or areas in the State with cluster of cancer cases, and improving cancer treatment.

(C) The registry shall receive, compile, analyze, and make available epidemiological and aggregate clinical cancer case information collected from all health care providers who diagnose and/or treat cancer patients in this State. The registry shall meet national standards of completeness and timeliness of case reporting and quality of data. Annual reports of aggregate cancer data must be provided to reporting facilities and physicians in the State.

Section 44-35-30. (A) A provider who diagnoses and/or treats cancer patients and does not report to a regional cancer registry shall report specific case information to the registry in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. These regulations shall include, but are not limited to, the reportable case listing, data elements to be collected, the content and design of forms and reports required by this section, the procedures for disclosure of information gathered by the registry, and other matters necessary to the administration of this section. The regulations shall include these data elements:

(1) complete demographic information;

(2) occupational and industrial information to the extent available;

(3) date and confirmation of initial diagnosis;

(4) pathological information characterizing the cancer, including cancer site and cell type, stage of disease, and initial treatment information, to the extent available, in the medical record.

A provider participating in a regional registry is not required to report to the Central Cancer Registry. Reporting providers must not incur additional expense in providing information to the registry.

(B) Regional registries shall report data on behalf of providers in their area to the Central Cancer Registry.

Section 44-35-40. Information that could identify the cancer patient must be kept strictly confidential in accordance with the administrative policy of the Department of Health and Environmental Control. This information must not be open for inspection except by the individual patient or the patient's authorized representative. Procedures for the disclosure of confidential information to researchers for the purposes of cancer prevention, control, and research must be promulgated in regulations. The data release protocol developed in coordination with the South Carolina Budget and Control Board, Office of Research and Statistical Services, must be utilized by the registry to determine appropriate use and release of cancer registry data.

Section 44-35-50. The registry shall coordinate, to the fullest extent possible, with the State Budget and Control Board, Office of Research and Statistical Services, for the complete, timely, and accurate collection and reporting of cancer data.

Section 44-35-60. A provider or regional registry making a case report or providing access to cancer case information to the registry is immune from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed.

Section 44-35-70. The Department of Health and Environmental Control may, to the extent of and within the available funds which may be provided, acquire laboratories, hospitals, or other property, either real or personal, by gift, purchase, devise or otherwise, as the department considers advisable to afford proper treatment and care to cancer patients in this State and to carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter.

Section 44-35-80. The Department of Health and Environmental Control may furnish aid to cancer patients who are residents of this State to the extent of and within the available funds as the department considers proper. The department may administer this aid in any manner which, in its judgment and with the approval of the Cancer Control Advisory Committee, provided for in Section 44-35-90, will afford greater benefit for the prevention, detection, and control of cancer throughout the State.

Section 44-35-90. There is established within the Department of Health and Environmental Control the Cancer Control Advisory Committee. The department shall appoint the members of the committee which must consist of qualified physicians, researchers, other experts engaged professionally in cancer prevention and care in South Carolina, and health care consumers. The committee shall advise and make recommendations to the department about the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive cancer prevention and control program through its review of cancer control services throughout the State. The committee shall:

(1) advise the department on professional issues pertaining to cancer prevention, detection, care and surveillance;

(2) participate in the evaluation of cancer programs and services offered through the department;

(3) serve as advocates for the poor and underserved patients through support of the state-aid cancer clinics;

(4) assist the department in maintaining liaison with the community and other health care providers; and

(5) advise the department on the administration of available funds for the prevention, detection, care, and surveillance of cancer.

Section 44-35-100. The reporting requirements provided for in Section 44-35-30 are suspended if adequate funding is not provided to the Department of Health and Environmental Control."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 29th day of May, 1996.