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Panel unanimously backs amendment to S146 allowing up to three designated visitors for nursing home residents
Summary
The Medical Affairs Subcommittee voted unanimously to adopt a strike-and-insert amendment to S146 that lets nursing home residents designate up to three visitors while permitting only one visitor at a time, with the ability to change designees twice per year or when a designee becomes permanently unable to visit.
The Medical Affairs Subcommittee gave S146 a unanimous favorable report after adopting a strike-and-insert amendment that expands and clarifies visitation rights for residents of nursing facilities.
Why it matters: The amendment responds to testimony about visitation restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and sets a statutory framework for designated visitors while allowing facilities to limit concurrent visitation to one designee at a time.
What the amendment does
The amendment, prepared after discussions with the South Carolina Healthcare Association, allows a resident to name up to three designated visitors but a facility may permit only one of those designated persons to visit the resident at any one time. The amendment also permits the resident to change those designees twice during a calendar year or sooner if a designee becomes permanently unable to visit. The committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment by voice vote and moved the bill to full committee.
Testimony and process
Staff told the committee the amendment reflected compromise language offered by the healthcare association after last week—s testimony. The subcommittee chair and members said the change was intended to balance infection-control concerns with the emotional and practical needs of facility residents who could not see loved ones during the pandemic. The panel moved the amended bill to full committee unanimously.
Votes at a glance
- Adopted strike-and-insert amendment to S146 permitting up to three designated visitors (only one visitor at a time) and allowing changes twice per calendar year: passed by voice vote - Motion to give S146 a favorable report to full committee as amended: passed unanimously
Ending
The subcommittee advanced S146 to full committee. Members indicated the change came from negotiated language with industry stakeholders and that additional discussion could occur at full committee level if needed.
