Press Release: SC Hospitals Express Appreciation for Sen. Tim Scott’s Leadership

(Columbia, South Carolina – June 23, 2025) As the U.S. Senate debates changes to the Big Beautiful Bill, South Carolina’s hospitals have joined their counterparts across the nation to express grave concerns about the impact of deep cuts to the Medicaid program. Many members of the SC Congressional delegation have been supportive, but none more so than Senator Tim Scott. Senator Scott’s staff has been in constant communication with SC hospital leaders since the bill was first introduced, and Senator Scott himself left the floor of the Senate to speak with hospital executives during a recent visit to Washington.

Senator Scott’s concern for his home state’s hospitals is evident in the priorities he has articulated for the Big Beautiful Bill. He has worked tirelessly to ensure the ten conservative Republican states that have never expanded Medicaid are not disadvantaged by the legislation now under consideration by the Senate. The House version of the Big Beautiful Bill grandfathers state directed payment programs that many states have used as alternatives to expanding Medicaid. The Senate bill does not contain the same protections, and hospitals are understandably worried.

Senator Scott understands the financial crisis the Senate language would create for South Carolina hospitals. Thornton Kirby, President & CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association, credits Senator Scott for bringing a critical issue to the forefront of the Senate’s debate. “Senator Scott has taken the time to understand the nuances of this legislation, and he is rightly concerned about the impact on our state’s hospitals. We can’t thank him enough for his leadership—behind the scenes and in public—to protect all hospitals in non-expansion states. Every resident of South Carolina, especially those in rural communities, should be grateful for Senator Tim Scott’s efforts to protect their access to healthcare 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”