By Lindsay Street, Statehouse correspondent | The state continues its wait for whether it can require work for South Carolinians to receive Medicaid benefits, despite a bumpy road forward paved by other Republican states.
Sixteen states have either implemented or sought the waiver that allows them to enact a work requirement for those seeking federally-subsidized health insurance, according to Kaiser Family Foundation. But New Hampshire, Kentucky and Arkansas have seen their waivers set aside by federal court decisions. Both Arizona and Indiana delayed implementation of their work requirements. South Carolina is one of eight states pending federal approval.
S.C. Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) public information director Colleen Mullis this week said the department negotiating with the federal government on its waiver proposal, which would mandate recipients of Medicaid work at least 80 hours per month. Low-income earner advocates have said work requirements could have a negative impact on those caring for others. SCDHHS has responded that working could have a positive impact on the health of recipients. Read more.
In other recent news:
South Carolina has worst roads in the nation. Just two years after state lawmakers finally agreed to phase in a gas tax increase, the state’s roads are still in shambles, according to a survey from Consumer Affairs. The survey ranked the state as having the worst roads in the nation. Read more.
FBI report shows increase in hate crimes in S.C. In 2018, South Carolina law enforcement agencies reported 111 hate crimes — a big jump from the 87 reported in 2017. Most of the hate crimes were based on race, according to the statistics. See the data here.
Check coming? Check here. The S.C. Department of Revenue is offering a way to check on whether you will receive a $50 rebate check. Click here. In related news, Gov. Henry McMaster signaled this week he would push for an income tax cut in the state in light of a projected $1.8 billion boost in state revenues. Read more.
S.C. federal lawmakers spar over opportunity zones. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina — author of federal opportunity zone legislation — and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-South Carolina, are not seeing eye-to-eye on the tax incentive for investment in so-called blighted areas. Clyburn has introduced a bill to “fix” problems with the tax incentive, but Scott said that will undo the program’s positive impact. Read more.
Senate panel meets on juvenile justice. The Senate Select Committee on Raise the Age will meet noon Nov. 19 in room 308 of the Gressette building on the Statehouse grounds. The panel has been meeting about reforms to the juvenile justice system in South Carolina.
Legislature, citizens examine judicial merits Nov. 18-20. State lawmakers and citizens are reviewing judicial merits of state judges and nominees next week. Check out the many meetings here. d
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