Dear Friend,  

Welcome back to my health care newsletter. You can sign up for my weekly updates and other issue-specific newsletters here. Please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina!   

COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Thanks to Operation Warp Speed and the dedicated work of our scientists, we are making great strides with COVID-19 vaccines! It’s been a tough year, but I am glad to announce good news, both for our nation and the state of South Carolina.

1. Over the weekend, the FDA authorized Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine for emergency use. By the end of this month, the company plans to roll out 20 million doses of their vaccine, which – unlike the two previously approved vaccines – only requires one dose.

2. Beginning Monday, South Carolina is transitioning into phase 1B of vaccine distribution, meaning anyone aged 55 and up now qualifies for the vaccine, as do frontline workers including teachers, grocery store workers, law enforcement officers, and others. These folks have risked their own safety time and time again to provide essential services throughout the pandemic, and I am thankful they will have the vaccine to help guard them against COVID-19.

To date, more than 50 million Americans have received at least one dose of a vaccine, and more than 1 million doses have been administered in South Carolina. If you need to make a vaccine appointment for yourself or a loved one, you can use this online resource to find the closest location or call 1-855-472-3432 if you need assistance.

Opposing President Biden’s Nominee, Xavier Becerra

Yesterday, I voted against California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s nomination to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. At a time when our country needs unity and trust in our officials amid the pandemic, he stands out as perhaps one of the most antagonistic, partisan nominees President Biden could have chosen.

Watch the video below to learn why I am adamantly opposed to Becerra leading our United States Department of Health.

Click to watch

Expanding Access to Telehealth

Thanks to modern technology, millions of Americans have been able to receive health care from the safety of their own homes throughout the pandemic. As Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, I know how crucial these telehealth services will continue to be for folks across the nation – our seniors in particular – even after COVID-19 is behind us.

That is why I reintroduced the bipartisan Telehealth Modernization Act, which will improve access to telehealth for our nation’s roughly 61 million Medicare beneficiaries. Not only does the bill expand telehealth coverage, but it also ensures patients can access these life-saving services from anywhere in the U.S. You can read more about it here.

As always, my team and I are hard at work to protect and improve health care options for all South Carolinians. For more information or to contact us please visit my website. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,