Bill Hearings
SB 61 * provide certain provisions regarding nursing facility closures.This is Senator Steinhauer’s bill which allows nursing home facilities who are ceasing operations the ability to move the licensed beds from their physical address and giving a 20 mile radius for those licensed nursing home beds. The goal for this bill is to allow communities to keep their community nursing homes. The Association has been supporting this bill throughout the process. It was amended in Committee and passed to the House floor as amended.
SB 85 revise the deadline for the Department of Health’s annual report regarding abortions.This bill simply moves the report date for reporting abortions in South Dakota from November 15th to July 1st. The Association has been monitoring this bill throughout the legislative process and it has passed out of both Chambers and is waiting for the Governor’s signature.
SB 136 to provide for the utilization of telehealth by a health care professional and SB 137 to provide for the payment of claims for covered services provided by a health care professional via telehealth. These two bills have passed the Senate and are up for a committee hearing next week. In a rural state like South Dakota, telemedicine increases access to healthcare services, helps address the workforce challenge and reduces costs such as travel, or diversion from the ER for simple conditions. Telemedicine services will continue to grow as technology develops and consumer expectations change so it’s critical to support legislation that promotes innovation and new ways of providing high quality patient care throughout the continuum of care. The Association has been supportive of these two pieces of legislation and will continue to support next week in Committee.
