South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014

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Bill 4009

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

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO CREATE THE "FREE HEALTH CARE STUDY COMMITTEE" TO STUDY THE EXTENT TO WHICH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS VOLUNTEER AT FREE MEDICAL CLINICS AND THE VARIETY AND EXTENT OF MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, TO PROVIDE FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE AND THE METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS, TO SET FORTH THE DUTIES OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE, TO REQUIRE THE STUDY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A REPORT WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND TO INCLUDE A SUNSET PROVISION FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE.

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

SECTION    1.    (A)    A "Free Health Care Study Committee" is created to study:

(1)    the extent to which medical professionals volunteer at free medical clinics;

(2)    the extent and scope of services provided by medical professionals at free medical clinics;

(3)    the health care needs free medical clinics are serving;

(4)    the health care demands for medical services at free medical clinics; and

(5)    ways to encourage medical professionals to volunteer at free medical clinics.

(B)    The study committee members shall include:

(1)    a representative of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association, appointed by the Governor, who shall serve as co-chair of the study committee;

(2)    a representative of the South Carolina Medical Association, appointed by the Governor, who shall serve as co-chair of the study committee;

(3)    a representative of the Medical University of South Carolina, appointed by the Governor;

(4)    one physician and one dentist who provide services at a free medical clinic located in an urban county, both appointed by the Governor;

(5)    one physician and one dentist who provide services at a free medical clinic located in a rural county, both appointed by the Governor;

(6)    a representative of the Appleseed Legal Justice Center, appointed by the Governor;

(7)    a representative of the Arnold School of Public Health, appointed by the Governor;

(8)    Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee;

(9)    Director of the Department of Social Services, or designee;

(10)    one member of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee, appointed by the chair of that committee; and

(11)    one member of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee, appointed by the chair of that committee.

(C)    The study committee shall collect data and other information relevant to volunteer services provided by medical professionals at free medical clinics including, but not limited to:

(1)    the number and percentage of medical professionals providing services at free medical clinics;

(2)    the extent and scope of health care services currently provided by volunteer medical professionals at free medical clinics;

(3)    the patients served by free medical clinics statewide; and

(4)    the health care needs for free medical services statewide.

(D)    The study committee shall review the data and other information and prepare a report for the Governor, General Assembly, and Department of Health and Human Services, which sets forth findings and recommendations relevant to the purposes of the study committee including, but not limited to:

(1)    ways in which the medical profession can encourage medical professionals to volunteer at free medical clinics;

(2)    impacts of medical professionals volunteering at free medical clinics on the extent and quality of healthcare services received by low-income, uninsured citizens and the related benefits on the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of these individuals;

(3)    barriers to increasing volunteer services and participation by medical professionals at free medical clinics;

(4)    ways in which to raise public awareness of contributions made by medical professionals at free medical clinics; and

(5)    roles that the legislative and executive branches should play to help achieve the recommendations of the study committee and to meet the demands for ensuring quality medical services at free medical clinics in communities across the State.

(E)    The staffing for the committee must be provided or coordinated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

(F)    Members of the study committee shall serve without compensation and may not receive mileage or per diem.

(G)    The study committee shall provide its report to the Governor, General Assembly, and the Department of Health and Human Services no later than January 1, 2014, at which time the study committee must be dissolved.

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

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This web page was last updated on April 29, 2013 at 12:41 PM