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TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE ON EMERGENCY ROOM DIVERSION TO BE CONVENED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO STUDY THE USE OF EMERGENCY ROOMS, TO IDENTIFY INAPPROPRIATE USAGE AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES ALTERNATIVES; TO SUBMIT A PLAN TO REDUCE INAPPROPRIATE USE OF EMERGENCY ROOMS AND A BUDGET TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN AND TO PROVIDE MORE APPROPRIATE SERVICES; AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN CONDUCTING A PILOT PROJECT.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) There is established a Task Force on Emergency Room Diversion to be convened by the Department of Health and Environmental Control to develop a plan for community service alternatives or contract alternatives, or both, for persons who currently use emergency rooms for nonemergency health services. Membership on the task force must include, but is not limited to, representatives of the following:
(1) South Carolina Medical Association;
(2) South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians;
(3) South Carolina Hospital Association;
(4) Emergency Medical Services Association;
(5) South Carolina Sheriff's Association;
(6) Partners in Crisis;
(7) Probate Court Judges Association;
(8) South Carolina Psychiatric Association.
(B) The task force shall submit a plan and budget to reduce inappropriate utilization of the emergency room and to provide more appropriate services. The plan and budget must be submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid Health Care before January 1, 2005. Following approval by the committee, the department shall undertake a pilot project implementing recommendations made by the task force. The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide support to the Department of Health and Environmental Control by monitoring and providing periodic evaluations of the pilot project.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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