These are the legal provisions related to hospital financial assistance/charity care in the state of South Carolina. This is intended for educational use and should not be treated as legal advice.
Is there a state charity care law?
South Carolina's law is as follows: Although the state doesn't have a charity care law, South Carolina has the Medically Indigent Assistance Program which pays for services Medicaid would cover for U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents with incomes that do not exceed 200% FPL.
Qualifications for charity care in South Carolina
Does the law specify a minimum Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for charity care?
South Carolina law specifies the minimum at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Does the law specify a minimum deadline for applying for charity care?
South Carolina's law regarding a minimum deadline is as follows: Under the state Medically Indigent Assistance Program, a patient can apply within a year of being discharged. Under federal law as it applies to nonprofit hospitals, a patient may apply for 240 days from when they receive the first post-discharge bill.
Does the law specify that having insurance disqualifies a patient for charity care?
South Carolina law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly answer this. However, we think that federal law prohibits nonprofit hospitals from denying patients charity care because they are insured.
Does the law specify that patients must be residents to be eligible for charity care?
South Carolina law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly answer this. However, we think that federal law prohibits nonprofit hospitals from denying patients charity care because of their residency.
Does the law specify that patients must be US citizens or documented immigrants/lawful permanent residents to be eligible for charity care?
State benefits are only available to US citizens or documented immigrants/lawful permanent residents.
Does the law specify that patients must owe a minimum bill amount in order to be eligible for charity care?
South Carolina law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law says that non-profit hospitals may not require a minimum bill amount for a patient to qualify for charity care. All emergency and medically necessary care conducted at a non-profit hospital is eligible for charity care.
How the law applies to copays in South Carolina
Does the law specify that patients cannot be responsible for a copay if they are eligible for charity care?
South Carolina law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly answer this. However, we think that federal law prohibits nonprofit hospitals from refusing to apply charity care to any part of any bill for emergency or medically necessary care.
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
South Carolina law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly answer this. However, we think that federal law prohibits nonprofit hospitals from refusing to apply charity care to any part of any bill for emergency or medically necessary care.
Collections laws related to charity care in South Carolina
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
A nonprofit hospital must have and follow its Billing and Collections policy. At a minimum it cannot sell a debt, refer it to a credit reporting bureau, or engage in a judicial process (such as filing a lawsuit or garnishing wages) for at least 120 days after it sent the patient the first post-discharge bill.
Length of time charity care can be applied to future bills in South Carolina
Does the law specify that hospitals must honor a charity care decision for future bills for a specific length of time?
South Carolina law states that Any state benefits granted will apply if the patient is readmitted within 30 days.