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PPI Senior Fellow Oran Smith was interviewed by WIS News 10 regarding the potential for a full repeal of CON laws in light of COVID-19 and action taken by Governor McMaster. PPI Visiting Fellow Dr. Marcelo Hochman was also interviewed. This article, and accompanying video, originally appeared on WIS News 10. Written by Jason Raven.  Dr.

Palmetto Promise Institute joined the Federation for Government Accountability (FGA) and other partner organizations in asking lawmakers on Capitol Hill to block the so-called “maintenance of effort” (MOE) provision in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This provision would cause irreparable harm to state budgets. You can read the letter below.  May 21, 2020 The

Once it became clear that COVID-19 could overwhelm our hospitals, Governor McMaster temporarily waived SC regulations that restrict hospitals and their ability to add capacity to their facilities. According to current law, SC hospitals and medical practices cannot add any beds to their facility without obtaining approval from the state. Why do we put these

H.R. 6336, the “Increasing Hospital Capacity to Fight the Coronavirus Act of 2020,” introduced by Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Rep. Jim Banks (R-Indiana), and others would ensure states are not penalized by Medicare or Medicaid for necessary capital expenditures that “violate” suspended Certificate Of Need (CON) laws. The CON issue, which is included in the

Note: The regulatory environment during COVID-19 is a quickly developing issue, so we will update this post regularly with new information.  The medical necessities of the COVID-19 pandemic have identified regulations—some perhaps legitimate, many unnecessary—which have been suspended to boost South Carolina’s healthcare capabilities, and respond to the pressing needs of workers, small businesses, and our economy.

Governor McMaster, along with South Carolina agencies, have been waiving healthcare regulations and red tape during this crisis, but there is more to be done. View our list of South Carolina’s deregulatory moves so far. Here is the short list of new ideas for additional flexibility that could make a real difference. This situation is

The medical necessities of the COVID-19 pandemic have identified regulations—some perhaps legitimate, many unnecessary—which have been suspended to boost South Carolina’s healthcare capabilities, and respond to the pressing needs of workers, small businesses, and our economy. Many actions have been by Executive Order of the Governor. Others have come directly from state agencies adapting to

Dear South Carolina, Please stay home! I am a small-town family doctor who owns his own practice. I don’t have a hospital administrator to muzzle me and I don’t work for the government. Take what I say for what it’s worth, which may not be that much, but I’ll be honest with you. I’m a

Note to parents: this edition of the weekly report from Palmetto Promise has more hyperlinks than usual. It is our hope that this hearty post will not only serve as a policy update but provide a ready lesson for young minds who are being educated at home during the COVID-19 social distancing effort. I don’t

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus COVID-19, the most urgent public conversations have focused on healthcare preparedness—the availability of beds (particularly in ICU), equipment (especially respirators), and healthcare professionals (physicians and nurses).   That’s why much of the executive action at both at the federal and state level has focused on increasing capacity and easing restrictions