Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are companies that act as intermediaries between drug manufacturers, health insurers, and pharmacies. PBMs do not directly distribute medications, but they play a pivotal role in attempting to control costs, determining quantities of medication available, and altering the overall consumer experience. Most Americans have at some point in their lives been
New data indicate that telemedicine has the potential to be a “great equalizer” for maternal health. As we have written previously, the 2024 Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act made strides in making telemedicine accessible to more South Carolinians. But while this legislation made progress, it did not go far enough to decrease the barriers we
In 2023, South Carolina took a decisive leap in ensuring quality and affordable care for patients through the repeal of the South Carolina CON (Certificate of Need) statute. These laws required government permission slips to start or expand the services of a healthcare business. While the repeal of CON was an important step in the
What a year 2025 has been for the state of South Carolina! With a 2026 election cycle well underway (including a series of Statehouse special elections in recent days) and a busy initial year of the two-year legislative session, there has been no shortage of political activity. As we prepare for the 2026 legislative session, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the impact Palmetto Promise Institute has had on
In South Carolina, where patients often drive far and wait weeks to see a doctor, the answer to faster, cheaper care may be standing behind the pharmacy counter. The United Health Foundation found that, in 2023, 31.8% of people in South Carolina live in rural areas, which is higher than the national average of 20.4%.
How long have you spent waiting for an appointment with a physician? Prolonged wait times have become a reality for most Americans due to a nationwide doctor shortage. On average, Americans must wait 20 days to receive an appointment with a physician, even though the estimated standard wait time is 14 days. Nationwide, this shortage
South Carolina legislators are, in the 2025-26 session, amidst a serious debate about expanding healthcare access and scope of practice in our state. At the most fundamental level, scope of practice (SOP) in healthcare policy is defined as “the activities and duties [tasks] that a licensed or certified healthcare professional is permitted to perform, based
This column by Palmetto Promise President & CEO Wendy Damron was originally published in FitsNews. When most Americans think of biotech and the Carolinas, they immediately imagine North Carolina and its famous “Research Triangle” hub of labs and universities. But increasingly, they ought to take some advice from the billboards dotting I-95 — and look
For years, Palmetto Promise Institute has supported Direct Primary Care (DPC) as a key reform to improve healthcare access, affordability, and doctor-patient relationships in South Carolina. With the introduction of H. 3966 by Rep. Davis (R-Moncks Corner), the General Assembly has another opportunity to solidify legal protections for this innovative care model. This legislation comes
The Rise of Gig Work As work becomes more flexible, healthcare becomes more fragile. Today, over one-third of the American workforce (36%) earns a living through the gig economy, a system based on contract or “gig”-based work, often facilitated by online platforms (think Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, VRBO, Grubhub, Doordash, Fiverr, Thumbtack, Etsy etc.). This sweeping
