Healthcare Legislation: Where Beaufort Memorial Stands
Advocating For Our Employees, Patients and Community
Healthcare policy decisions made at the state level have a direct impact on our patients, workforce and the communities we serve. Beaufort Memorial leadership actively monitors and engages on legislative issues that influence access, operations and regional health outcomes. Through collaboration with policymakers to share insights and advocate for solutions, we remain committed to strengthening and sustaining healthcare across the Lowcountry.
Legislative Priorities
Surgical Technology Certification Expansion
Code 44-7-380, Section B (1)(a)
Amending state law to recognize the Tech in Surgery–Certified (TS-C) credential in addition to the currently accepted Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification would expand the pool of qualified surgical technologists eligible to practice in South Carolina. Limiting recognition to a single certifying body unnecessarily narrows the workforce at a time when hospitals nationwide are facing surgical staffing shortages. Aligning state requirements with nationally accredited certification pathways would provide greater flexibility while maintaining professional standards.
Recognizing both credentials would also strengthen recruitment efforts, particularly as South Carolina competes with neighboring states that already accept multiple nationally recognized certifications. Expanding eligibility would help reduce staffing gaps, minimize surgical delays and support timely, high-quality care for patients in our growing and rapidly evolving community.
Physician Noncompete Contract Prohibition
As currently drafted, House Bill 4767 is overly broad and could unintentionally limit reasonable agreements between hospitals and physicians. While we support ensuring providers can continue practicing within their communities, the language as written may disrupt longstanding partnerships that protect stability, prevent costly bidding wars between competing healthcare systems and safeguard shared investments in recruitment and infrastructure.
Of particular concern is the potential impact on specialty coverage and emergency room call responsibilities. In markets like the Lowcountry, where specialty coverage is limited, the sudden loss of even one physician could leave critical gaps in emergency services and delay patient care. Legislation should include protections that allow hospitals to maintain fair coverage commitments and recoup significant recruitment and coverage costs, while still preserving physicians' ability to practice locally.
Location of Beds
As written, the proposed legislation would allow hospital beds to be placed in hallways, corridors or other means of egress during a broadly defined “justified emergency.” While flexibility during true emergencies is important, the current language is expansive and could create operational, safety and compliance challenges. Clearer guardrails are needed to ensure that patient placement decisions remain clinically driven and consistent with established fire and building safety standards.
Hospitals must balance surge capacity needs with the safety of patients, staff and visitors, particularly in emergency department settings. Modifications to the bill should clarify documentation requirements, strengthen oversight and ensure hallway bed use is limited to circumstances where all appropriate treatment space has truly been exhausted. Thoughtful revisions would help preserve emergency flexibility while maintaining safety and accountability.
Tort Reform and Medical Malpractice
Clarifying the definition of "occurrence" in South Carolina's Tort Claims Act would ensure that multiple related acts of negligence resulting in the same injury are treated as a single event. This amendment would provide greater consistency in how claims are evaluated and reduce the potential for multiple claims arising from a single course of care. Establishing a clear and uniform definition supports fairness in the legal process while helping healthcare organizations manage risk responsibly.
Preserving liability limits and maintaining the gross negligence standard are also important to ensuring balanced legal protections for community hospitals. These provisions help prevent an increase in liability exposure that could result from lowering the burden of proof, while still allowing legitimate claims to move forward. Maintaining these safeguards supports a stable healthcare environment and allows community hospitals to continue investing in patient care, workforce recruitment and essential services.
Workplace Violence: HALO Act
Healthcare workers face a significantly higher risk of workplace violence than most other professions, with incidents occurring daily in hospitals across South Carolina. Despite the frequency and severity of these events, South Carolina remains one of the few states without enhanced legal penalties for assaulting healthcare professionals. Strengthening protections would help deter violence and reinforce the importance of maintaining safe care environments for both patients and staff.
Workplace violence also has broader impacts on healthcare access and quality, contributing to staff burnout, workforce shortages and challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified professionals. These incidents can disrupt patient care, increase wait times and affect overall hospital operations. Enhancing legal protections for healthcare workers would support a safer, more stable healthcare system and help ensure continued access to high-quality care for communities across the state.
Legislative Opportunities
State Income Tax Credit Program
Hospitals serving rural and aging communities in South Carolina are under significant financial pressure due to rising operational costs, workforce shortages, regulatory demands and coverage gaps. Reimbursement rates have not kept pace with these expenses, while the loss of enhanced support programs and pricing protections has further strained operating margins. These challenges limit hospitals’ ability to reinvest in patient care and essential community services, threatening the stability of healthcare in the state.
A state-supported tax credit program, modeled after Georgia’s HEART initiative, could provide a sustainable solution. By offering targeted financial support, such legislation would help community hospitals manage tight budgets, offset uncompensated care and preserve access to high-quality services. In addition to strengthening the financial stability of hospitals, this approach would support local economies and protect taxpayers, ensuring that South Carolina residents continue to receive reliable healthcare in their communities.