Is Medicaid Expansion on the Horizon for South Carolina?

A Discussion Begins at the State House

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A topic long avoided in the South Carolina State House may soon be under consideration – Medicaid expansion. Ever since the choice became available approximately a decade ago, forty U.S. states have chosen to widen the eligibility criteria for this government funded healthcare program for low-income households. Yet, South Carolina has steered clear of the issue, until now.

Bringing the Conversation to the Table

Republican lawmaker, Senator Tom Davis, believes it is time to address Medicaid expansion as part of broader conversations about reforming the healthcare market. Davis expressed concerns about the direction of healthcare provision, warning that without action, South Carolina could be heading towards a single-payer system – something he sees as a potential “disaster.”

Davis is proposing the creation of a new committee to study the issue in the coming months. The goal is to identify potential changes that could benefit the healthcare market in South Carolina. A key aspect of the proposed committee’s mission would be to examine the potential for South Carolina to become the 41st state to expand Medicaid eligibility.

A Balancing Act

Davis contends that this committee won’t necessarily be pro or anti Medicaid expansion, but he insists that it is a necessary point of discussion in any attempt to reform healthcare. “We owe it to the people of South Carolina… to put all the facts on the table and have an honest discussion,” he stated.

Proposed Reforms

To be established through a proviso in the proposed state budget, this committee could potentially recommend over a dozen different reforms. These might include encouraging the expansion of telemedicine, ensuring cost transparency, and removing collaboration requirements between healthcare professions.

Who Would Benefit?

Expanding Medicaid could have a huge impact for many South Carolinians. A study released earlier this year by the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that more than 100,000 people who are currently uninsured in the state could become eligible for coverage if Medicaid were to expand.

Awaiting Support

Any potential Medicaid expansion would require the backing of the governor to become law, or else need to amass sufficient support in the largely Republican legislature to override a veto. Governor Henry McMaster, however, has long opposed Medicaid expansion and has dismissed the need for a committee to study the issue, as expressed by his spokesman Brandon Charochak.

The future of the proposed committee now lies with the final version of the budget. If included, their findings would be submitted by December 1, granting the legislature time to consider the recommendations before the start of next year’s legislative session.

What Next?

With so much on the table, the coming months promise to be a critical time for healthcare reform discussions in South Carolina. The lives and health of tens of thousands of currently uninsured individuals may soon see dramatic change as lawmakers decide whether or not to traverse this long avoided third rail.