For Policymakers
Policymakers
Telehealth is transforming how care is delivered across South Carolina, helping patients connect with providers through secure video, phone, and digital tools. For policymakers, telehealth offers an opportunity to improve access in rural and underserved communities, address provider shortages or maldistributions, and reduce barriers to timely care.
Founded in 2014 through generous support from the SC state legislature, the SCTA has become the trusted expert on the telehealth landscape in South Carolina. We aim to educate stakeholders and policymakers as to the importance of telehealth sustainability in our state, including demonstrating the impact telehealth has had in our state on patients, providers, and communities.
We also aim to educate on important considerations for policy, including reimbursement, licensure, technology infrastructure, and digital skills access. By supporting policies that strengthen and sustain telehealth, lawmakers can help ensure that residents statewide benefit from high-quality, accessible, and cost-effective healthcare.
Understanding current legislative proposals in South Carolina (Session 126: 2025-2026)
Bill S. 0377 (Davis) – Link
Bill Title: Telemedicine and Telehealth
Summary: Would create a telehealth registry for out-of-state providers to provide telehealth in SC without necessitating full licensure. Implications for bringing more providers into SC via telehealth, and some concern around safety and oversight.
Status: Senate Medical Affairs Committee
Bill H. 4335 (Sessions) – Link
Bill Title: Telehealth and Telemedicine Providers
Summary: Amends Physician Practice Act to clarify that a physician need not have a physical address in SC in order to act as a supervising/collaborating physician for an Advanced Practice Provider (APP). Implications for certain virtual-first telehealth program models in SC.
Status: Senate Medical Affairs Committee
SC Telehealth Laws
Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act
The Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act (Act120) of 2024 was signed into law on March 11, 2024. The legislation built upon the 2016 Telemedicine Act and included two main components: (1) introduced a definition of “Telehealth” in statute, inclusive of non-MD healthcare practitioners, and (2) modernized remote prescribing statutory language to facilitate increased access to certain controlled substances via telehealth while maintaining important safeguards.
Download the SC Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act Info Sheet
SCTA Payer Priorities and Scorecard
The SCTA has outlined some key telehealth coverage and reimbursement recommendations for payers to enhance sustainability of telehealth programs in SC:
- Expand provider types to include behavioral health, rehabilitative therapies (PT/OT/SLP), and audiology
- Cover and reimburse for asynchronous and non-face-to-face telehealth modalities including:
- Remote Physiologic Monitoring and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring
- Interprofessional Consultations (eConsult)
- Store-and-Forward
- Collaborative Care Behavioral Health Integration (CoCM)
- Virtual Check-Ins and Audio-Only Telehealth
- Continue to allow FQHCs and RHCs serve as distant sites for telehealth
Download the Payer Scorecard (PDF) for more details.
Annual Report
