Telehealth Helped During Covid – Are Politicians Going to Let Us Keep The Freedom?
Read the Article Telehealth Helped During Covid – Are Politicians Going to Let Us Keep The Freedom? Marcelo Hochman MD As the world returns to pre-pandemic status, the innovations we’ve gained in the past two years shouldn’t go with it. During the COVID-19 crisis, increased access to previously restricted telehealth was one silver lining. Medicare patients were able to receive care safely in the comfort of their homes once the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services lifted long-standing bureaucratic obstacles. Patients made good use of their new health freedom. An [...]
South Carolina puts hospitals ahead of patients, again
Read the Article Hospitals promise affordable, accessible care, but patients often experience something different. When they need treatment, they find themselves herded into fewer, bigger and more costly medical systems. South Carolina had a chance to change the landscape this year by passing Senate Bill 290. The measure would have ended a government regulatory regime that limits the availability of medical facilities and services by requiring a certificate of need. Essentially, a certificate of need works like a . . . (read the entire article)
Hospitals Shouldn’t Get to Choose Their Competition
Read the Article Somebody call an eye doctor. Two of South Carolina’s largest hospital systems have gone to war over allegations of unfair trade practices, and neither side can see the hypocrisy. A lawsuit brought by the Medical University of South Carolina accuses Trident Medical Center and its affiliate company, Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare, of “wholesale poaching” and “conspiracy.” Specifically, MUSC says Trident raided its head-and-neck cancer treatment unit in 2021 and lured away several top doctors. Trident issued a statement in response, saying it merely wants to provide “exceptional care” for patients. A $1.7 million settlement with MUSC... [read the [...]
Letter to SC House of Representatives – CON Repeal
May 2, 2022 To the Members of the House of Representatives, As you consider S290, the bill that addresses the Certificate of Need (CON) regulations we ask that you keep in mind those to whom this matters most: the people of South Carolina – your constituents, our patients. By voting to repeal CON you would be on the side of patients who for 40 years have suffered the consequences of CON. Remember, of the five things CON was to do NOT A SINGLE ONE HAS COME TO FRUITION. Our State has consistently made the bottom of lists with regard [...]
Hospitals Shouldn’t Get to Choose Their Competition
Read the Article Somebody call an eye doctor. Two of South Carolina’s largest hospital systems have gone to war over allegations of unfair trade practices, and neither side can see the hypocrisy.A lawsuit brought by the Medical University of South Carolina accuses Trident Medical Center and its affiliate company, Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare, of “wholesale poaching” and “conspiracy.” Specifically, MUSC says Trident raided its head-and-neck cancer treatment unit in 2021 and lured away several top doctors.Trident issued a statement in response, saying it merely wants to provide “exceptional care” for patients. A $1.7 million settlement with MUSC... [read the whole article] [...]
SC senators seek to end Certificate of Need regulation for hospitals, medical facilities
CHECK OUT THE LATEST NEWS FROM COLUMBIA: REPEALING THE CON ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE SC CERTIFICATE OF NEED BEING REPEALED
CON Repeal ACTION NEEDED from Physicians
Email Holly Pisarik, the SCMA Senior VP of Advocacy and Policy Counsel, at holly@scmedical.org , or if more convenient, by calling her directly at 803-543-4894.
Dr. Hochman quoted in Marketplace Morning Report
This affects health care workers, too, said South Carolina surgeon Marcelo Hochman. Noncompete agreements can restrict young physicians at the start of their careers. Read the Entire Article
Yaffee and Dr. Marcelo Hochman Discuss Problems in Our Healthcare System
On June 11, 2021, Dr. Hochman was interviewed by Yaffee on WVNN. Listen here
After COVID: 3 things that states can do now to fix health care
To improve health care, there are a number of steps that states should be taking, including tax reforms and getting rid of CON laws. By Dr. Marcelo Hochman and Daryl James (Opinion contributors) Policymakers talk about comprehensive health care reform. They see a broken system and want to fix everything at once. Emergency room workers can relate, but they take a more strategic approach when patients arrive with multiple injuries. Through triage, they prioritize problems and apply isolated but related interventions to save lives. Fixing the health care system can work the same way. COVID-19 has exposed a range [...]
Anti-competitive, outdated laws must be repealed!
Research confirms that CON laws lead to higher costs and less access for patients. Both sides of the aisle agree! Tell your lawmaker that these anti-competitive, outdated laws must be repealed by signing this petition today! View full info packet The Certificate of Need (CON) conversation is back up in the South Carolina Senate! Senator Wes Climer proposed a full repeal of CON on the Senate floor today (Tuesday) and now also receives support from Democratic Senator Dick Harpootlian. The issue is expected to resurface as soon as tomorrow in the Senate. The time to engage is today. Now is the time to contact members of the [...]
For Immediate Release
Palmetto Promise Institute – Repealing Certificate of Need Regulations PRESS RELEASE by Palmetto Promise Institute FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2020Media contact: Oran P. Smith, PhD PPI Senior Fellow (803) 360-1194 oran@palmettopromise.org Palmetto Promise Introduces Healthcare Freedom Agenda with Support from Physicians and Lawmakers COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 22, 2020) – Palmetto Promise Institute, joined by Senators Wes Climer, Tom Davis, and Mike Gambrell, introduced a Healthcare Freedom Agenda for South Carolina at a news conference Tuesday morning. Reforms include protecting Direct Primary Care, repealing Certificate of Need regulations, empowering patients with the Right to Shop for healthcare [...]
Dr. Hochman’s Letter to the Editor Wall Street Journal CVS/Aetna Merger
Read the full article on the Wall Street Journal here: Wall Street Journal - Dr. Hochman's letter to the editor [pdf]
Dr. Hochman Interview on Accad&Koka
On June 3, 2019, Dr. Hochman was interviewed by The Accad & Koka Report. Listen here: https://accadandkoka.com/episode80/ For an automatic transcription, you can read and listen here: https://otter.ai/s/z6M3X_39TjOtZF_Jdgkhcw
The Doctor of the Day
SC Legislative Session begins on January 8, 2019, and ends on May 9, 2019. The Doctor of the Day Sessions are on Tuesdays from 12 noon until 4:00 p.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m A resident will shadow the Doctor of the Day. If you are interested, contact Ginger Chalk at 803-612-4129 or email her at ginger.chalk@scmedical.org.
CCMS Past President, Andrew McMarlin, DO and Docs Adopt
Dr. Andrew McMarlin and CCMS were referenced at the MUSC Boeing Center for Children’s Wellness was featured in a press release by Charleston County School District. Please take a look and see how CCMS partners with the Docs Adopt Program. Read the Article
CCMS President’s Recent Letter to The Honorable Richard J. Leon
Concerns regarding the proposed merger between CVS Health and Aetna Inc. There is no reason to believe the new entity would start passing on theoretical savings to customers in the face of less competition. We need more -- not fewer -- choices in health care. Read the Letter
Letter to Governor McMaster re Opioid blame.
Dear Governor McMaster,The physicians of the Charleston County Medical Society would like to make you aware of our Commentary which appeared on Saturday, August 10, 2018, in the Post and Courier (https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/place-opioid-blame-where-it-belongs/article_0e924542-9ca1-11e8-88e3-6fd45e5a5c25.html) and which is attached to this letter.As stated, we welcome the attention to the issue of opioid-related deaths, dependence, and addiction. However, we strongly believe that the focus on restrictive and punitive controls on prescriptions is misplaced and will result in further detriment to our patients - your constituents. The national narrative in expert circles supports our position as do the greater than 5000 Tweets that [...]
CCMS question addressed at GOP Gubernatorial Runoff Debate
One of the CCMS questions was included in the recent GOP Gubernatorial Runoff Debate. Live from the Newberry Opera House; Governor Henry McMaster and John Warren debate.
CCMS is helping to make Doctors relevant in mid-terms
The physicians of the Charleston County Medical Society request that the candidates for governor of South Carolina publicly detail their positions on the topic of health care prior to the June primaries. Health care has been identified as the top concern for the mid-term elections in various polls and, as doctors and our patients’ advocates, we believe certain issues that specifically affect South Carolina should be addressed by the candidates. The topics below have been identified as being important to the sanctity of the reciprocal doctor-patient relationship, to provide opportunities for innovation in delivery of high-quality care at a [...]
