Healthcare

Healthcare costs continue to skyrocket. Doctors and patients battle through bureaucratic red tape and one-size-fits-all Washington mandates. Learn how South Carolina can embrace many proven, state-led innovations to lower costs, increase quality, and expand access to care for patients in every corner of our state.

The Latest

Blog
June 18, 2024

Healthy Citizens: 2023-24 Freedom Agenda in Review

Palmetto Promise Team

Now that the General Assembly has adjourned sine die, we are taking a look back at the 23 policies Palmetto Promise proposed in the 2023-24 Palmetto Freedom Agenda at the beginning of the legislative session. Did our Freedom Agenda policies make it into law? Or, at the very least, did they start a conversation that

Blog
May 19, 2024

Commentary: History speaks clearly to SC health agency reforms

Oran P. Smith, Ph.D

This column by Senior Fellow Dr. Oran Smith originally appeared in The Post and Courier May 19, 2024. Looking back over South Carolina’s civic life, most historians would agree that Carroll Campbell has been among our state’s most effective governors. It was Campbell, a Republican with a General Assembly that was 61% Democratic, who shepherded

Blog
May 15, 2024

Governor McMaster Explains Exactly Why we Need Health Agency Restructuring

Palmetto Promise Team

On the last day of the legislative session, the crucially important bill to restructure South Carolina’s badly fractured health agencies was stalled due to a last-ditch procedural move. This delay is a disservice to all South Carolinians. Our state health agencies are in dire need of reform. This is a truth leaders have recognized for decades,

Blog
May 1, 2024

More Jobs, More Freedom, Better Health

Felicity Ropp

This spring, there have been several bills moving through the General Assembly that would streamline licensing for healthcare professionals and ensure South Carolinians have more choices in healthcare.   These healthcare freedom reforms are much needed here in South Carolina. Following last year’s repeal of the burdensome Certificate of Need (CON) statute that prevented healthcare from

Blog
March 26, 2024

FORBES: Tennessee Could Follow South Carolina’s Lead With Cost-Reducing Reform

Palmetto Promise Senior Fellow Dr. Oran Smith is quoted in this article on Certificate of Need Reform written by Patrick Gleason and originally published in Forbes. South Carolina is a red state where Republicans have long held statewide offices and majorities in the state legislature, but the Palmetto State has not been a national leader

Blog
March 25, 2024

Surprise Medical Bill Fix Could be On the Way

Felicity Ropp

Have you ever endured a medical procedure and weeks afterward received a shockingly large bill? This is known in policy world as “Surprise Billing.”  

Blog
March 14, 2024

The New Health Agency: Efficiency? YES. Czar? NO.

Oran P. Smith, Ph.D

Download this legislative analysis report. After the South Carolina General Assembly passed legislation separating the Department of Health & Environmental Control into separate agencies (Act 60, 2023), the legislature began work on a comprehensive measure that would streamline health functions across state government. The Senate has passed S.915 and the House has passed H.4927, each

Blog
October 11, 2023

Governor McMaster Ceremonial CON Repeal Signing

Last week in the Statehouse, Governor Henry McMaster held a ceremonial bill signing for the legislation repealing South Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) statute. Palmetto Promise Institute President Wendy Damron and PPI Senior Fellow Dr. Oran Smith (far left of the photo above) were on hand for the occasion. In his remarks, Governor McMaster was