AGP Executive Report

Long-Term Care Workforce: LeadingAge South Carolina celebrated Gov. Henry McMaster signing Senate Bill 819, updating tuberculosis testing rules for nursing homes and community residential care—aimed at speeding qualified hires while keeping resident safety protections. Rabies Alert (Upstate): SCDPH confirmed a rabid feral cat in Anderson County; one person was exposed and referred to a provider, and six other cats may have been exposed—officials urge people to avoid stray animals and call for help. Safe Haven for Newborns: Two babies were surrendered under Daniel’s Law in Columbia this week, with DSS handling custody and court dates set for permanency planning. Red Snapper Fight: South Carolina’s expanded recreational red snapper season is paused after a federal court order suspended NOAA’s special permits. Community Health Support: Horry County Schools will offer free summer meals for kids 18 and younger starting June 10 at participating sites. Public Safety (Local): A vehicle fire in Horry County was extinguished; no major details on injuries were reported.

NIH Leadership Shake-Up: Jeffrey Taubenberger has stepped down as acting director of the NIH Infectious Disease Institute, raising fresh concern as officials watch for outbreaks including Ebola and measles. Social Media Lawsuits: Meta, Google, Snap and TikTok settled a Kentucky school district suit over claims their platforms harmed students’ mental health; details weren’t released, but the case is part of a broader wave of school lawsuits. Food Safety: Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup was urgently recalled in multiple states, including South Carolina, due to possible undeclared shrimp that could trigger deadly allergic reactions. Public Health in Schools: In Dorchester County, 32 students reportedly got sick after a field trip to a movie theater, with parents questioning how the situation was handled. Local Health & Safety: South Carolina’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program returns June 1 with $50 in checks for eligible seniors. Energy & Environment: SC regulators approved the Canadys natural gas power plant in Colleton County despite cost and environmental concerns. Road Risk: A fatal three-car crash in Greenville County killed one driver.

EMS staffing push: South Carolina is expanding EMS training to tackle a worker shortage, with officials saying the state may need to produce far more providers each year and is leaning on local, employer-based education to get people certified faster. Water safety & drought: As Memorial Day nears, officials warn about hidden dangers in natural water and ask Ridgeland residents to voluntarily conserve water amid severe drought. School health alerts: Dorchester School District 2 says 32 elementary students got sick after a movie theater field trip, and the district is monitoring students with help from state health officials. Public health watch: South Carolina confirmed a rabid skunk in Abbeville County; no people were exposed, but three dogs were quarantined. Policy spotlight: A new SC law adds stricter requirements for school restroom facilities, drawing both praise and pushback. Road safety: State agencies are kicking off “100 Deadly Days of Summer” enforcement, including seat belt crackdowns starting May 22.

Health Equity & Access: South Carolina’s Department of Public Health is pushing Stroke Smart South Carolina Month with funded training that certifies providers in Advanced Stroke Life Support, aiming to catch stroke signs faster—DPH notes the state ranks among the top 10 for stroke death rates. Caregiver Strain: InvestigateTV+ spotlights the growing burden on unpaid family caregivers, calling it a public health issue as more Americans juggle complex medical needs without support. Telehealth Rules: CMS says hospices can keep using telehealth for face-to-face recertifications during the hospice/home health enrollment moratorium, clarifying how providers can operate while access concerns are debated. Local Health Watch: Ridgeland is asking residents to voluntarily cut water use amid severe drought, stressing drinking water and healthcare needs. Food Safety: A Kroger croutons recall is tied to possible salmonella risk from a seasoning ingredient.

Redistricting Fight: South Carolina House Republicans pushed forward with a new congressional map Tuesday, but voting-rights groups sued to pause the process, arguing a late rule change broke state public-notice rules; a Richland County hearing is set for Wednesday. Local Health & Safety: In Columbia, SCDPH confirmed a rabid bat exposure risk—three people were exposed and told to contact providers, and a cat will be quarantined. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data put White Oak Manor–York among the top nursing homes in York County (109 beds, 5/5 overall), while Pruitthealth Columbia ranked third in Richland County but received a 1/5 overall rating. Community Health: South Carolina’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is back June 1, with $50 in checks for eligible seniors to buy fresh produce. Mental Health Focus: May’s Women’s Health and Mental Health Awareness push highlights the need for self-care, especially for women who often carry caregiver guilt. Lowcountry Business: Black Dog Junk Removal in the Charleston area is gaining attention for fast, integrity-focused cleanouts.

Public Health & Safety: A new study says official measles counts may miss most infections—Arizona-Utah and wastewater data suggest outbreaks could be 6.5x to 100x larger than reported, with mild cases helping the virus spread quietly. Healthcare Operations: Shepeard Community Blood Center in SC/GA went live with BBCS’ ForLife Biologics Platform, aiming to modernize donor management, testing, manufacturing, and distribution. Substance Use Response: Tri-County overdose spikes are driving faster Narcan access, with Wake Up Carolina expanding outreach and naloxone distribution as overdoses cluster. Long-Term Care Watch: CMS data highlights nursing home capacity and ratings across SC counties, including a Lexington County facility ranked among the largest but rated 1/5 overall. Local Health Policy: Fort Mill’s school board proposed a $272M budget with an 8.5-mill tax increase, including staffing and class-size goals. Community Health Tech: International Clinical Trials Day spotlights early-stage drug progress, including preclinical cancer results from Nyrada.

Redistricting Fight: South Carolina House Republicans moved to approve a new congressional map while voters’ rights groups sued to stop the process, arguing a mid-debate rules change was handled unfairly; a Richland County judge is set to hear a request to pause the map work as early voting approaches. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data spotlighted multiple facilities across the Upstate and Lowcountry, with several nursing homes ranking far below the state average in Q1 2026 ratings, including one-star and two-star centers in Lexington, Cherokee, Greenwood, Oconee, Fairfield, and Greenville counties. Public Health & Safety: Authorities released details on an Anderson County dog attack that killed a five-month-old, calling it a random accidental death, while Georgia confirmed three new measles cases tied to an unvaccinated family after international travel. Food Safety: Kroger recalled Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons over possible salmonella risk tied to a recalled dry milk powder ingredient. Care & Community: Greenville Women Giving awarded $525,799 in grants to seven local nonprofits, and SNAP June payment dates are rolling out by state.

School Policy: Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill requiring sex-based school bathrooms, with single-user options available for students who request them. Public Health & Safety: Charleston police say a shooting on King Street left one dead and two women injured; the victims are Maine spin instructors being treated at MUSC, and a suspect is in custody. Food Safety: The FDA announced a recall of Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons in multiple states, including South Carolina, due to possible salmonella contamination; no illnesses reported. Elder Care Watch: CMS data shows NHC Healthcare–Lexington earned a 3-star rating in Q1 2026, while Inman Healthcare in Spartanburg scored 4 stars—both with no fines/penalties reported. Animal Welfare: Lexington County shelter euthanasia fell in 2025, but overcrowding still persists. Health Care Access: A new study finds many older adults with metastatic lung cancer still never receive systemic treatment, even as therapies improved.

Nursing Home Watch: CMS data shows Sumter East Health & Rehabilitation Center led Sumter County by bed count in Q1 2026 (176 beds) but earned a low 1/5 overall rating, while NHC Healthcare–Greenwood topped Greenwood County (152 beds) with a higher 4/5 rating—highlighting big quality swings across nearby facilities. Public Health & Safety: Police and deputies reported multiple incidents, including a Greenwood homicide investigation after a man was shot, and an Anderson infant death after a dog attack. Food Safety Alert: A South Carolina recall is tied to an ice cream product that may contain metal fragments, with officials urging people to check freezers and contact a doctor if concerned. Community & Care: USC opened its Brain Health Center in March 2026 to expand cognitive screening and support across underserved areas. Health in the News Cycle: A viral Charleston case urges FDA contact after an Alani Nu customer reported finding a dead mouse in a can.

Heat Safety Week: South Carolina health officials are pushing early prep for dangerous heat, warning it can strike before official advisories and hit hardest on older adults when nights stay hot and humid. Emergency Response: A new look at Columbia’s 911 system says 23% of 2025 calls went unanswered, including cases where families say they kept dialing while a diabetic emergency unfolded. Water Safety: SC DPH is urging CPR training, swim lessons, no-alcohol supervision, and extra home pool protections like barriers and drain awareness. Heart Health: MUSC cardiology is highlighting family-history risk screening and prevention steps starting in early adulthood. Medical Care Access: Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences earned the top 10-year CCNE accreditation for its MSN program, and Novant added a full-time electrophysiologist in Hilton Head to expand AFib treatment locally. Patient Safety & Privacy: A NIH-funded newborn genome sequencing project is drawing parent backlash over consent and how state screening blood spots could be used.

Public Safety: A Moncks Corner man is in custody after police say he assaulted a woman, forced her into his car’s trunk, then hit speeds over 100 mph during a chase that ended in a crash; the South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating. Tragedy on the Roads: In Spartanburg County, a head-on crash killed five people, including Greenville Police Sgt. Ashley Munoz, with her partner also injured. Ocean Safety: Sullivan’s Island crews rescued eight swimmers after strong currents swept people out; one 23-year-old was hospitalized. Health & Policy: South Carolina’s “Shrimp Caucus” is pushing a seafood transparency bill that would require restaurants and retailers to clearly label locally sourced vs. imported shrimp. Medical Research: A new analysis reports enzalutamide plus leuprolide may extend treatment suspension duration in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. Politics: Louisiana’s GOP Senate primary unseated Sen. Bill Cassidy, setting up a runoff between Julia Letlow and John Fleming.

Fatal crash updates: The coroner has identified all five people killed in a head-on crash in Spartanburg County early Friday, including Greenville Police Sgt. Ashley Munoz, who died at the scene; her partner, also a sergeant, was airlifted after the crash. Road safety: Troopers say the crash happened around 12:45 a.m. on Highway 101 near Bellview Road, involving a 2025 Ford SUV and a 2016 Toyota SUV; one passenger survived with injuries. More deadly crashes: South Carolina Highway Patrol is also investigating a fatal motorcycle crash in Spartanburg County and a separate I-26 crash in Calhoun County that killed one and sent three others to the hospital. Public health and care access: Piedmont Medical Center is seeking permits for a new freestanding emergency department in Lake Wylie, continuing a push to expand local ER options. Medicaid spending watch: New local data show rising Medicaid billing in multiple SC communities, including Florence and Gaffney, across several service categories.

Road Safety Tragedies: South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly motorcycle crash in Spartanburg County on Mud Creek Road near Hickory Nut Road, where the rider ran off the road, hit a guardrail, and died. Fatal Interstate Crash: On I-26 near St. Matthews, a 2025 Honda CR-V left the roadway and struck a concrete barrier; the front-seat passenger, Benjamin Winston, died at the scene and three others were hospitalized. Public Health & Community: A 5-month-old died after a dog attack at a home in Anderson County; the adult victim was treated and released, and the dog was taken to a shelter while investigators look into what happened. Medicaid Watch: New federal spending data show Medicaid billing spikes in multiple SC communities, including Fountain Inn ($123,764 in 2024), Florence ($6.27M, up 37.8%), and Gaffney ($453,605, up 53.6%)—highlighting where taxpayer-funded care is flowing. Health System Expansion: Piedmont Medical Center is seeking permits for a freestanding emergency department in Lake Wylie, continuing its push to add standalone ER access in the region.

Medicaid spending watch: In Conway, Medicaid claims for Medical and Surgical Supplies hit $208,284 in 2024 (up 6.1% from 2023), while Rock Hill saw a sharp rise in Administrative, Miscellaneous and Investigational services to $186,762 (up 1,319.5%). Local treatment dollars: Chesterfield billed $665,993 for alcohol and drug abuse treatment (up 3.8%), Cheraw logged $346,483 for medicine services and procedures (up 16.9%), and Travelers Rest jumped to $387,650 in the same medicine category (up 457.1%). Public health signals: A new report maps cities facing the worst mosquito swarms this summer, and CDC wastewater surveillance funding is reportedly drying up—raising concerns for early outbreak tracking. Health system leadership: Gov. Henry McMaster named Dr. Brannon Traxler acting director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health after Dr. Edward Simmer exited with the legislative session. Safety and emergencies: Upstate crews responded to an earthquake and multiple serious crashes, including a gunshot victim airlifted after a crash near a Clinton hospital.

Public Health Leadership Shakeup: Gov. Henry McMaster named Dr. Brannon Traxler acting director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health after Dr. Edward Simmer’s term ended when lawmakers adjourned without confirming him. Severe Crash in Upstate: A head-on collision on Highway 101 in Spartanburg County killed five people, including Greenville Police Sgt. Ashley Munoz; her wife, also a sergeant, was airlifted and remains in critical condition. Home Births Under Scrutiny: A national report spotlights how some midwives assist with home births despite state rules—Georgia treats it as illegal, while other states vary from misdemeanor to felony. Rabies Alert in SC: DPH confirmed a rabid skunk in Ward; officials say no human exposure is known, but one dog and 14 livestock were potentially exposed. Cancer Care Update: New trial results say durvalumab added to BCG cut recurrence or death risk by 32% for BCG-naive, high-risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

DPH Leadership Shake-Up: Gov. Henry McMaster named Dr. Brannon Traxler as interim director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health after Dr. Edward Simmer’s role was cut short when the General Assembly didn’t confirm him before the session ended. Rabies Alerts: S.C. confirmed multiple rabid animals this week, including a rabid calf in Saluda County plus cases involving a skunk in Spartanburg and a raccoon in Berkeley—prompting exposure notifications. Public Health & Access: A new study finds most South Carolina youth with HIV do transition from pediatric to adult care, but fewer than half do it in a timely, sustained way—mental health conditions were linked to lower odds. Mental Health in Real Life: A Columbia barber shop is turning everyday conversations into stigma-busting support during Mental Health Month. Drug Case: A Greer man was sentenced to nearly 12½ years after authorities said he carried a suitcase of cocaine and more drugs were found at his home. Policy Watch: McMaster also ordered a special session to address the state budget and redraw congressional district lines.