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July 2025

Jul 21
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Expanding Telehealth Access: PCC Showcases Library-Based Care in Orangeburg

By News
By: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, PCC
Orangeburg, SC – On July 10, 2025, Palmetto Care Connections joined local and statewide partners for the Telehealth Kickoff / Premier Event at the Orangeburg County Library—a milestone moment in expanding healthcare access for rural South Carolina.
This community-centered event was designed to introduce and showcase a newly installed telehealth cart available to the public at the Orangeburg County Library. The cart allows individuals to connect with any provider offering telehealth services, right from their local library—eliminating barriers like travel time, internet access, and transportation.
Palmetto Care Connections (PCC), the South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare (CRPH), MUSC Health, the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance (SCTA), and the Orangeburg County Library collaborated on this effort. As part of the event, PCC team members provided live demonstrations of how to use the telehealth cart, walking guests through what a virtual visit might look like and answering questions from community members.
Roughly 30 people attended the event, including local residents, library staff, and representatives from each partner organization. The event drew interest and enthusiasm from attendees who saw firsthand how technology can make healthcare more accessible.
This initiative is part of a broader goal to bring care closer to home and was supported by the CRPH Access to Health Care through Telehealth grant. As PCC continues to partner with libraries and other trusted community hubs, events like this one serve as powerful reminders that innovative, community-driven solutions are making a real difference in the lives of rural South Carolinians.
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Jul 18
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Telehealth Gets a Boost from New Federal Law

By News

By: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, PCC

A new tax package signed into law on July 11, 2025, is a big win for telehealth access across the country. The legislation makes first-dollar coverage for telehealth permanent for people with High-Deductible Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). This means patients can now have virtual visits without meeting their deductible first—removing a major cost barrier.
Why it matters for PCC and our communities:
  •  Long-term certainty – This isn’t a temporary extension—it’s a permanent policy, giving providers and patients peace of mind.
  •  Better benefit options – Employers can now include telehealth in their plans without added costs to employees.
However, some other telehealth flexibilities—like hospital-at-home and Medicare virtual care—are still set to expire later this year. PCC will continue advocating to keep those services available.
📖 Read the full article:
https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/telehealth-gets-a-win-in-trump-s-tax-package

Jul 02
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Supreme Court Backs FCC Program That Helps Expand Rural Internet and Phone Access

By News

By: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, PCC

On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a key FCC program that helps fund phone and internet service in rural, low-income, and underserved areas. The 6–3 decision keeps the Universal Service Fund (USF) in place—a major win for broadband access in communities like the ones PCC serves. (Read the original article from The Gazette)

What is the Universal Service Fund?

The USF is a fund the federal government uses to make sure people in all parts of the country—especially rural areas—can get access to phone and internet at an affordable rate. Telecom companies contribute to the fund and often pass the cost on to customers as a small line item on their phone bills. The funds support:

  • Rural homes and businesses
  • Tribal lands
  • Schools and libraries
  • Health clinics and telehealth programs

Why Did the Court Get Involved?

Some groups argued the FCC did not have the authority to collect these fees and give the money to the Universal Service Fund. They claimed it was an unconstitutional tax.
However, the Supreme Court disagreed, ruling that Congress had granted the FCC the authority to manage the program and that the process was lawful and necessary. (Read more from Reuters)

What This Means for Rural South Carolina

This ruling protects funding that helps people in rural areas stay connected to doctors, schools, and family. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez said it best: ending the fund would hurt millions of Americans. However, she also suggested that Congress should explore ways to modernize the program. (Read More from TV Technology)

Why PCC Cares

As the nation’s leading broadband consortium aiding our healthcare providers across eleven states  Palmetto Care Connections serves communities that depend on adequate and reliable broadband access for telehealth, Education and other connected services.  The Supreme Court’s ruling protects critical funding that helps our most vulnerable and primarily underserved stay connected and accessing critical services they require. PCC will continue to advocate for practical solutions that strengthen connectivity across rural South Carolina and beyond.

Jul 01
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Expanding Access and Skills: PCC Hosts Digital Literacy Training in Lee County

By News
By: Chaunte’ Causey, Communications Manager, PCC
Bishopville, SC — On June 24th, Palmetto Care Connections (PCC) hosted a free Digital Literacy Training in Bishopville, welcoming 19 participants from Lee County and surrounding areas. Held at the Bishopville City/County Complex, the session was made possible through funding from the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance (SCTA) and is part of PCC’s broader mission to improve digital access and telehealth readiness across rural South Carolina.
The training offered attendees hands-on experience with internet-enabled tablets and covered key skills like navigating a touchscreen device, sending emails, accessing telehealth services, and using video calling for personal and medical needs.
Thanks to SCTA funding, each participant received a tablet with one year of free cellular service, helping eliminate the barriers of device access and internet connectivity that often stand in the way of rural telehealth use.
Due to the strong turnout and positive feedback, PCC is excited to announce a second Digital Literacy Training course scheduled for July 30th in Bishopville.  To learn more or register for the upcoming session, call 803-450-1027.
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