COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina lawmakers want to make pandemic-related telehealth access continue permanently.
Jack Gaddy started seeing an occupational therapist via telehealth after a stroke left him unable to move the right side of his body.
"You can be right there with the OOT in just a matter of moments. I don’t have to drive an hour and a half, two hours to Charleston," said Gaddy.
After the pandemic, many South Carolinians like Gaddy traded the waiting room for their living room. According to the most recent state data, there were more than 1.5 million telehealth interactions in 2021.
“The pandemic showed us that good responsible healthcare can be delivered in a continuum of in-person and hybrid healthcare," said Executive Medical Director for MUSC Center for Telehealth Jimmy McElligott.
Rep. Bill Herberksman (R-Beaufort) is sponsoring a bill that eliminates pre-COVID barriers to telehealth access so more patients like Gaddy can get the care that they need.
The "Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act" updates the definition of telehealth and removes in-person requirements to start a patient-provider relationship.
It also expands telehealth to all licensed practitioners, not just doctors and physician assistants.
"We saw during the pandemic that telehealth is great for mental health issues, and substance and alcohol abuse. It removes the stigma," said CEO of Palmetto Care Connections Kathy Shwarting.
The measure gives physicians more discretion to prescribe medicine virtually. Right now, McElligot said doctors must get permission from their practice board.
“Now we do so much telehealth, that’s really burdensome and there’s a lot of people not being cared for because people just won't get special permission and things," said McElligot.
In 2016, the Governor signed the South Carolina telemedicine act. Since then, the law has remained unchanged.
Healthcare advocates like Schwarting said the legislation ultimately puts South Carolina ahead of other states and increases access to care for patients.
"We can’t go back to where we were. It was antiquated and ancient. We’ve got to move forward," said Schwarting.