Nursing homes may not be established, operated, or maintained in South Carolina without first obtaining a state license from DHEC in a manner provided by Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the South Carolina Code of Laws and DHEC regulations. Licensed nursing homes may volunteer to participate in the federal Medicare and Medicare programs, and DHEC is charged with enforcing the federal standards on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS). DHEC ensures nursing homes in South Carolina comply with state licensing and federal health and safety standards.

In 1994, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) obtained federal grant funding to integrate the special treatment needs of pediatric patients into the state's EMS and hospital systems. This program became the South Carolina EMS for Children (SC EMSC) program.

The program is housed under the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). These national health agencies created specific Performance Measures to ensure optimal pediatric care is addressed and evaluated.

DHEC's Bureau of Drug Control enforces the S.C. Controlled Substances Act, which closely parallels the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970. The S.C. Controlled Substances Act:

Emergency preparedness resources for Medicare providers, including information on how to request 1135 Waivers, Fee-for-Service Emergency Q&As, and general Emergency Provider FAQs.

For potential waiver requests during an applicable event, it is helpful for requestors to clearly state, in any format they choose, information that will address the scope of the issue and the impact of the disaster including the following basic information:

Emergency Meal Planning

When a hurricane or other disaster strikes, kidney dialysis patients may be without their normal scheduled dialysis treatments until electrical power in hospitals or renal dialysis facilities have been restored. It is important to follow a limited diet if dialysis has to be missed. Therefore, dialysis patients will have to extend the life of their last treatment by watching their diets.

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ANY AND ALL ABUSE IS REPORTABLE TO THE BUREAU OF CERTIFICATION

Nursing Home Regulatory Requirements

CMS' State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix PP, including nursing home guidance on Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation, can be accessed here.

• Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Code of Federal Regulations (searchable)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• CLIA LABORATORY CERTIFICATE INFORMATION
• CMS SURVEY & CERTIFICATION LETTERS

Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) Program surveys intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disability. Surveyors meet professional qualifications of the designation Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP).

ICF/IID Regulations 42 CFR 483 Subpart I Interpretive Guidance: SOM Appendix J (pdf)

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (S.C. DHEC) Division of Health Facilities Construction reviews plans, specifications, and construction for health care facilities which DHEC licenses in South Carolina. This authority comes from the South Carolina Legislature. Some health care facility types such as doctors offices and clinics are not licensed by S.C. DHEC and thus are not reviewed or inspected by us.

For all projects: