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H. 4143
STATUS INFORMATION
Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Young and Knight
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11687ac07.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 775
Introduced in the House on May 24, 2007
Currently residing in the House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
Summary: Multiple Sclerosis Healthcare Access Study Committee
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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5/24/2007 House Introduced and read first time HJ-19
5/24/2007 House Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and
Municipal Affairs HJ-19
6/6/2007 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Knight
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO ESTABLISH THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS HEALTHCARE ACCESS STUDY COMMITTEE, TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERS, POWERS, AND DUTIES, AND TO DIRECT THE COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS IN THIS STATE AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY JANUARY 1, 2008, AT WHICH TIME THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS ABOLISHED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Whereas, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system and that is varied in frequency and severity of symptoms; and
Whereas, approximately 400,000 Americans acknowledge having multiple sclerosis, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed with the disease. In that there is currently no formal method of tracking the incidence of Multiple Sclerosis in this State, it is estimated that there are more than 3800 South Carolinians living with MS; and
Whereas, though there is no cure for MS, there are medications that control MS and medications that alleviate the symptoms; and
Whereas, access to treatment is critical to managing MS and vital to the quality of life for a person living with MS, all of which can be impacted by the level of medical specialization available to a person and which can be greatly enhanced by treatment from a MS specialist; and
Whereas, in South Carolina there are no clinics that specialize in providing treatment to persons with MS, and while many MS patients are treated by neurologists, there are very few physicians in this State who specialize in treating MS, and although treatment is provided on a limited basis weekly by an MS specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina, the need greatly exceeds the access available to specialized care; and
Whereas, many South Carolina residents must travel great distances, often out of state, in order to obtain specialized healthcare for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Now therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A)(1) There is established the Multiple Sclerosis Healthcare Access Study Committee to be comprised of the following:
(a) two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(b) two members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(c) the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, or a designee;
(d) the head of the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina, or a designee;
(e) the head of the Department of Neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, or a designee;
(f) a representative of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, South Carolina Chapter, appointed by the Governor;
(g) a representative of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, appointed by the Governor;
(h) three persons living with multiple Sclerosis; one from the Low Country, one from the Midlands, and one from the Upstate, all appointed by the Governor.
(2) A vacancy on the committee must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(3) Members of the committee shall receive mileage, per diem, and subsistence as provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions from approved accounts of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
(4) At the first meeting of the committee, the members shall elect a chairperson from among the committee members.
(B) The committee shall study the access to healthcare services for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by persons living with MS in this State, evaluate whether the treatment needs of these persons are being adequately met in terms of level of care and specialization available, geographical location of services, and frequency of the availability of specialized services, and such other matters as the committee may find relevant. The committee shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly before January 1, 2008, at which time the committee is abolished.
(C) The House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee and the Senate Medical Affairs Committee shall provide staffing for the committee.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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