South Carolina H 4383: South Carolina Medicaid Protection and Expansion Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4383 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 23, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4383

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH 
CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA MEDICAID PROTECTION AND 
EXPANSION ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 6, TITLE 44 SO AS TO CREATE A 
MEDICAID STABILITY FUND TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL FUNDING REDUCTIONS; 
TO FULLY ADOPT MEDICAID EXPANSION UNDER THE FEDERAL PATIENT PROTECTION AND 
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT; AND TO REQUIRE AN ECONOMIC AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN 
COORDINATION WITH HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS.

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Medicaid Protection and 
Expansion Act".

SECTION 2. Chapter 6, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 10

South Carolina Medicaid Protection and Expansion Act

 Section 
44-6-1210. (A) There is created in 
the State Treasury a fund to be known as the "Medicaid Stability Fund."

 (B) The 
fund shall be used exclusively to offset reductions in federal Medicaid funding 
that impact the State of South Carolina or its Medicaid-eligible populations.

 (C) The 
fund may receive revenue from:

 (1) 
state general fund appropriations;

 (2) 
budget surpluses;

 (3) 
reallocated funds as authorized by the General Assembly; and

 (4) 
gifts, grants, and donations from private or public entities.

 (D) The 
Department of Health and Human Services shall administer the fund and report 
annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on fund usage, balance, and 
future projections.

 Section 
44-6-1220. (A) The Department of 
Health and Human Services shall take all actions necessary to fully expand 
Medicaid eligibility as provided for under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable 
Care Act, including:

 (1) 
expanding eligibility to individuals earning up to one hundred thirty-eight 
percent of the federal poverty level; and

 (2) 
accessing the enhanced federal match rate of ninety percent for new enrollees.

 (B) 
The department shall develop an enrollment plan, fiscal impact report, and 
implementation timeline within ninety days of the effective date of this 
article.

 (C) 
The department shall submit its report and implementation plan to the General 
Assembly and the Governor within one hundred twenty days of the effective date 
of this article.

 Section 
44-6-1230. (A) The Department of 
Health and Human Services shall partner with:

 (1) 
licensed hospital systems;

 (2) 
federally qualified health centers (FQHCs);

 (3) 
public and private universities within the State; and

 (4) 
the South Carolina Hospital Association.

 (B) 
The partners identified in subsection (A) shall conduct a biannual impact 
assessment evaluating:

 (1) 
coverage gaps in Medicaid-eligible populations;

 (2) 
uncompensated care costs;

 (3) 
regional health outcomes by county and zip code;

 (4) 
the economic impact of Medicaid expenditures and cuts on local economies; and

 (5) 
workforce needs for Medicaid service providers.

 (C) 
The findings of the biannual impact assessment must be reported to the General 
Assembly every two years beginning July 1, 2026.

SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, 
paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for 
any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not 
affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, 
the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and 
each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, 
phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other 
sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, 
or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise 
ineffective.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on April 23, 2025 at 01:55 PM