Senate Bill S.915 (and the House companion bill H. 4927) will create an Executive Office of Health and Policy to be headed by a Secretary appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.  

The bill has two parts. First, it completes the directives of Act 60 of 2023 that restructured DHEC (S.399 DHEC Restructuring Bill that was enacted last year.) The Act directed the Department of Administration (“DOA”) to meet with stakeholders and report to the General Assembly the measures needed to complete the split of DHEC. Second, it restructures the Department of Public Health, Department of Aging, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Mental Health, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) under one Cabinet agency. Act 60 directed DOA and DHHS to retain consultants to review the South Carolina health care service delivery system and to report recommendations for access and efficiencies. DOA contracted with the Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”) to conduct the study. The BCG report stated that South Carolina has the nation's most fractured healthcare delivery system and recommended combining the services to avoid duplications and create more efficient healthcare delivery.   

S.915 is making great legislative progress and was given final approval in February in the Senate and sent to the House. H.4927 has received a favorable report from the House Judiciary Committee and is on the House Calendar. Governor Henry McMaster supports the creation of the Executive Office of Health and Policy.