The Promoting Interoperability Programs, formerly known as the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs, and more commonly known as Meaningful Use, was implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to encourage health care providers and organizations to implement and use health care information technology.

Meaningful Use includes public health reporting options. DPH offers the following programs for eligible clinicians, hospitals, and critical access hospitals:

Part 488 Survey, Certification and Enforcement Procedures

• Part 488 Subpart E Section 488.332 Investigation of Complaints of Violations and Monitoring of Compliance
• Part 488 Subpart E Section 488.335 Action on Complaints of Resident Neglect and Abuse; and Misappropriation of Resident Property

Part 431 State, Organization and General Administration

Civil Money Penalties (CMPs) are monetary penalties imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) against nursing homes that have failed to maintain compliance with federal requirements. A portion of CMPs collected from nursing homes are returned to the states in which the CMPs were imposed and may be reinvested or used for projects supporting activities that benefit nursing home residents and that protect and improve their quality of care or quality of life. CMP funds may be used for, but not limited to the following:

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

DPH's Bureau of Healthcare Quality is responsible for licensing various health care facilities, activities, and professionals in South Carolina and for enforcing compliance with the applicable state regulations and statutes relating to these health care facilities, activities, and professionals to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of South Carolina. In addition, we investigate complaints and serious incidents.

Licensing Inspections

Here are key facts about DPH's Healthcare Quality inspections:

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.

HFC Organization and Staff Contacts

The following staff organization by state regions is used as a guideline for project assignments and may vary based on the needs of the project and the workloads of the staff members.

Main Phone: (803) 545-4215

• 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)