S.C. Code Ann. § 44-6-140
(A) To provide cost containment incentives for providers of care to Medicaid recipients, the department shall convert the Medicaid hospital reimbursement system from a retrospective payment system to a prospective payment system by October 1, 1985. The prospective payment system includes, at a minimum, the following elements:
(B) The department shall at the same time implement other cost containment measures which include, but are not limited to:
(5) procedures for encouraging the use of outpatient services.
The department, to the fullest extent possible, shall utilize information required in this subsection in the form hospitals are presently submitting the information to other governmental agencies or in the form hospitals are presently utilizing the information within the hospital.