Bill 690

                    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 reference

ADOPTED

March 20, 1991

S. 690

S. Printed 3/20/91--S.

Read the first time February 20, 1991.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

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.