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

When a crisis comes, often the best thing government can do is get out of the way. That is certainly true for healthcare. Whether arcane Certificate of Need regulations or restrictions on doctors practicing across state lines, the coronavirus crisis has been a wakeup call to the regulatory state, leading to questioning whether these restrictions

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is an innovative healthcare model being embraced by patients, providers, employers, and policymakers across the United States. DPC offers a unique, affordable membership-based approach that enables patients to establish ongoing relationships with their physicians. Unlike 26 other states, South Carolina does not have a law in place protecting DPC by defining

As we all face our new reality in a world of “social distancing,” please know that we are holding you and your family close in our prayers. Even—especially—in times of crisis, public policy matters to real lives. While there are many unknowns, here at PPI we are committed to continue to be your voice for

UPDATED (March 19th): 3 days after this article was published, Governor Henry McMaster issued an Executive Order specifically directing DHEC to suspend CON regulations for the duration of this public health emergency. (March 17th): DHEC Director Rick Toomey told the Senate Finance Committee, in response to questions, that there would be flexibility on CON bed limits.

On Thursday, a Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee heard testimony on several bills to either modify or fully repeal South Carolina’s arcane certificate of need laws, or CON. Due to CON’s outdated and prohibitive restrictions on innovation in the healthcare space, PPI has been advocating for full repeal. CON laws require medical providers to obtain special

Our interactive map details affordable healthcare options for South Carolinians in need of an alternative to their current medical care.

Over the last few years, the conversation surrounding healthcare in South Carolina has mostly centered around a debate over coverage, from Medicaid expansion to the Affordable Care Act.