The 2023 State Legislative Telehealth Champion award was presented to South Carolina Representative William G. “Bill” Herbkersman, R-Beaufort, during the 11th Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina held in December in Greenville. He is Chairman of the Healthcare Subcommittee and Ways and Means Committee.
“Representative Herbkersman was involved in the growth of telehealth since the beginning, he was a supporter of the initial Telemedicine Act,” said Dr. James T. McElligott, a pediatrician at the Medical University of South Carolina and a co-chair of the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance. “He’s been supportive throughout the whole journey. “Without that legislative support we really wouldn’t be where we are now.”
The State Telehealth Legislative Champion award recognizes an individual legislator in South Carolina that supports telehealth utilization and broadband expansion to increase access to improve the health and well-being of South Carolinians. The purpose of this award is to recognize a visionary leader in the South Carolina General Assembly focused on increasing access to quality health care services through the utilization of telehealth technologies for all South Carolinians.
Fellow legislator SC Representative Mark Smith said Rep. Herbkersman has advocated for the growth of telehealth because he has a keen understanding of access being a primary issue for people living in the rural areas of the state. Especially in parts of the state where rural hospitals have closed, like the city of Bamberg. Rep. Herbkersman continues to look for innovative ways to deliver high quality healthcare to every person in South Carolina.