Independent doctors, “old school medicine,” on the COVID-19 frontlines

Healthcare
Blog · March 26, 2020

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

Expanding telehealth among freedom-based solutions to COVID-19 pandemic

Healthcare
Blog · March 26, 2020

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

As coronavirus raises unemployment rate, this SC bill may help military spouses find work

Quality of Life
News · March 20, 2020

Palmetto Promise Institute President & CEO Ellen Weaver was quoted in this Post & Courier article about a South Carolina bill to remove barriers to work for military spouses. S.455 will recognize licenses from military spouses moving into South Carolina without them having to go through the expensive and time-consuming license process.  By Thomas Novelly 

Free resources for at-home learning during school closures

Education
Blog · March 18, 2020

Learning from home, especially in this time of uncertainty, is a unexpected challenge for many families and teachers. But working together, we can keep our students safe, continue their education journey…and hopefully have some fun along the way! The resources provided on this page are meant to supplement – not replace – official instructions provided

Video: Free to Care

Healthcare
Blog · March 17, 2020

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

Arcane SC regulations could hinder hospitals’ response amid Coronavirus outbreak

Healthcare
Blog · March 16, 2020

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.

The Artis Ware story

Education
March 15, 2020

Artis Ware lived to see his grandson, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, rise “from cotton to Congress” thanks to the power of his example.

Benefits outweigh risks in selling Santee Cooper

Energy
Blog · March 13, 2020

On July 31, 2017, Santee Cooper and SCE&G announced that they were abandoning work on the expansion of the V.C. Nuclear Station in Fairfield County. Shortly thereafter, Palmetto Promise went to work digging into the financial and policy implications of that decision for taxpayers and ratepayers. PPI has stayed true to our research mission, providing an

Evidence from Florida: Education Choice works

Education
Blog · March 4, 2020

In 1998, South Carolina students led Florida students in performance on a number of national tests, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as “The Nation’s Report Card.” But over the last decade, Florida far surpassed South Carolina in K-12 education outcomes, most notably among traditionally disadvantaged student populations.  Currently, only 0.30% of