In February 2024, the General Assembly passed the SC Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act (“The Act”). This legislation outlined a new definition of “Telehealth” as well as enhanced access to specific controlled substances through telehealth by updating tele-prescribing regulations. The update was careful to preserve necessary safeguards. The Act was a good first step, but
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
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
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,
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
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
Have you ever endured a medical procedure and weeks afterward received a shockingly large bill? This is known in policy world as “Surprise Billing.”
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
The last two weeks have seen both the SC Senate and the SC House pass legislation to create a robust new cabinet-level agency dedicated to Health Policy.
We have another Freedom Agenda healthcare win to report! Healthcare in South Carolina just got a little freer and more accessible for South Carolinians on January 31 with the passage of H. 4159, the Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act!