Congenital Heart Disease

2025-2026 Bill 5425: Congenital Heart Disease - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Download
This Bill
in Microsoft Word Format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
H. 5425
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Stavrinakis, Wetmore, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0519CM-EB26.docx
Introduced in the House on March 26, 2026
Adopted by the House on March 26, 2026
Summary: Congenital Heart Disease
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

3/26/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 10
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
03/26/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, INCLUDING
AORTIC ATRESIA, AS A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO
URGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE, LIFELONG CARE FRAMEWORK FOR AFFECTED
RESIDENTS.

W
hereas, congenital heart
disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defect, and rare conditions such
as aortic atresia, where the aortic valve fails to form in a fetus, require
complex, multistage surgical interventions and specialized lifelong medical
supervision; and

W
hereas, aortic atresia
frequently occurs in conjunction with other complex CHDs, including hypoplastic
left heart syndrome, and requires coordinated, multidisciplinary treatment from
infancy through adulthood; and

W
hereas, South Carolina
mandates newborn screening for critical congenital heart defects, an important
life-saving measure that facilitates early detection, but does not establish a
comprehensive system for long-term care and support; and

W
hereas, South Carolina
has established a Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) to provide guidance on
rare conditions, including congenital heart defects, yet no targeted statutory
framework currently designates CHD as a distinct public health priority
requiring coordinated, lifelong care infrastructure; and

W
hereas, individuals
born with complex CHD are living longer into adulthood and require ongoing
access to specialized pediatric and adult congenital cardiology services,
transition programs, and care coordination; and

W
hereas, workforce
shortages, geographic disparities in specialist availability, and reimbursement
challenges create barriers to timely and affordable access to high-quality
congenital heart care, particularly in rural and underserved communities; and

W
hereas, strengthening
research, provider training, insurance coverage standards, and care
coordination for CHD would support families, improve health outcomes, and
reduce long-term healthcare costs to the State; and

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina House of Representatives recognize CHD, including aortic atresia,
as a significant and ongoing public health concern affecting families across
this State and support the efforts to expand research, data collection, and
actionable policy recommendations through collaboration with the South Carolina
RDAC and relevant healthcare stakeholders to ensure accessible, coordinated,
and sustainable care throughout the lifespan. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, recognize congenital heart disease, including aortic
atresia, as a critical public health priority in South Carolina and urge the
establishment of a comprehensive, lifelong care framework for affected
residents.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on March 26, 2026 at 11:45 AM