The 2025 State Legislative Telehealth Champion award was presented to South Carolina State Representative Mark Smith, Republican-Berkeley, during the 13th Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina held last month in Charleston.
The State Telehealth Legislative Champion Award recognizes a legislator as a champion who has assisted with breaking significant barriers or supported revolutionary processes including telehealth that benefit communities on a statewide level.
Born and raised in Bamberg, South Carolina, Rep. Smith understands the unique healthcare challenges that people in rural areas face. He’s advocated for telehealth access and championed telehealth expansion throughout the state. Rep. Smith helped to get the Telehealth Modernization Act passed last year which moved telehealth forward in South Carolina.
“He was the one that was not only advocating, building the momentum but leading the charge in South Carolina to make sure that bill passed and was signed by Governor Henry McMaster,” said Murrell Smith, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Palmetto Care Connections is the host of the Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina. The Telehealth Summit brings together leaders and professionals interested in utilizing telehealth to increase access to health care.
