COLUMBIA, S.C. – May 6, 2025 – The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services held a public hearing today regarding plans to submit a waiver request to establish Palmetto Pathways, a program that would set strict eligibility requirements for Medicaid recipients who are parents. In response, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Regional Government Relations Director Beth Johnson released the following statement:
“We know state officials want to do something about the health care coverage crisis in South Carolina. Unfortunately, Palmetto Pathways is not going to help those who need insurance. Instead, it will make it harder to access care, especially screenings that are crucial to cancer survival. Palmetto Pathways will lead to later stage cancer diagnoses and more suffering and death from the disease.
“Work requirements lead to higher uninsured rates rather than higher employment rates. Setting up arbitrary barriers to accessing health care means a sicker workforce.
“Nearly 350,000 adults in the coverage gap in South Carolina would gain insurance through Medicaid expansion. State officials say Palmetto Pathways would cover only 3% of those adults and in reality, the numbers will be much lower. Georgia has already tried this and less than 1% of eligible people enrolled in a similar program.
“Essentially, Palmetto Pathways would cost the state more money to cover fewer people than traditional Medicaid expansion. It also leaves out single adults and those who earn under 67% of the Federal Poverty Level, like single parents who make $12,000 a year. Those parents will still not be eligible for Palmetto Pathways. Everyone needs access to health insurance to be able to screen for, detect and treat cancer, as our studies show that is the most important predictor of cancer survival.
“Finally, work requirements are reporting burdens that are incredibly expensive and create governmental red tape and inefficiency. This program would cost the state a lot of money and will not make a dent in closing the massive health coverage gap that exists in South Carolina.”
