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After this article was published, Diane Hardy of the Mom and Pop Alliance and Ron Aiken, Media Relations Director, S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control added the below content in red.
Edward Simmer, MD, MPH, DFAPA, is the director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
The legislative body in South Carolina split DHEC. They did so last year, with the passage of Act 60 that became effective May 26, 2023 (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/399.htm). The groups consist of an environmental group with its own administrator and a health division with its own administrator.
DHEC has more than 3,800 employees in 100 offices across the state. The agency has the authority to shut down a school, shut down a business, and even shut down the entire state, as they did during the covid pandemic.
SC DHEC has an annual budget of $46 million set for fiscal 2024, which is projected to be split equally among the two divisions. ($23 million each)
All of the future assigned duties of the two new administrators exist today. Those powers are currently in the hands of Dr. Edward Simmer. Simmer is a life-long, government bureaucrat. Prior to being confirmed as SC DHEC director, Dr. Simmer served over thirty years on active duty in the United States Navy. In his most recent assignment, he served as the first Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency in Falls Church, VA.
The Mom and Pop Alliance ads:
QUESTIONS/CONCERNS ABOUT BILLS TO RESTRUCTURE DHEC (H4927 AND S915)
How and why was the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) chosen to deliver a (some would say, biased) report in person to SC elected officials?
Is this the group we want advising SC on how to restructure of one of the largest, most powerful agencies in our state?
The plan consolidates virtually all power and control of six departments under one bureaucrat with only one check to that power.
Are you aware that the following is prominently featured on the BCG website?
♦ BCG Partners with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to launch digital health care transformation
♦ 10 Actions for Climate Change
♦ Founding Member of Global Coalition – Partnering for Racial and Ethnic Justice
♦ How Chinese Companies Can Build for the Future
♦ Improve Health Equity
♦ Speed progress toward the UN’s health-related Sustainable Development Goals
♦ “Enduring” relationships with the WHO, the WEF, World Bank Group, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
THE BILLS ARE COMPLEX with too many concerns to list, but:
Despite the arguments that DHEC is “fragmented,” and this plan would streamline services, provide greater accountability of directors, and make it easier for Legislators to acquire information, we would urge you to please CONSIDER THE SOURCE and the clearly stated agenda bias of the BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.
IN OUR VIEW, THERE IS TOO MUCH CENTRALIZED CONTROL, AND NOT ENOUGH CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THAT POWER:
1) Transfers power from Gov. to the Secretary for appointment of all current directors of 5 depts.
2) Secretary would review and approves or disapproves ALL regulations before submission to the General Assembly
3) The appointed Directors will have no one to go to with concerns since they were hired by this one Secretary
4) There are no qualifications, requirements, or term limits for this very powerful individual Secretary
5) Transfers power regarding assistance from sheriffs and State National Guard to the Secretary
Destroying Capitalism and Liberty
Early last year, the S.C. House began its considerations on overhauling the behemoth that is S.C. DHEC. They then split the organization, with the passage of Act 60 that became effective May 26, 2023. During the middle of the pandemic, the former director fled the state and ultimately Simmer was hired.
WHO DID SOUTH CAROLINA PUT IN CHARGE OF LIMITING DHEC’s POWER?
In Act 60, the South Carolina legislature specifically designated the Department of Administration, not DHEC, to be in charge of splitting the two agencies. Here’s that language:
“…BY REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO PERFORM CERTAIN FUNCTIONS TO EFFECT THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND THE CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INCLUDING THE ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND POPULATIONS SERVED BY THE PREDECESSOR AGENCIES AND THE PREPARATION OF REPORTS SUMMARIZING THE ANALYSIS AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO THE APPROPRIATE STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THE RESTRUCTURED STATE AGENCIES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”
Who did the act hire for the study?
The Boston Group was a separate task assigned to the Department of Administration by Act 60 in addition to DOA’s effecting the split of DHEC. That task included looking at all state agencies that deal with public health issues to make recommendations on potential improvements, and the specific language for it is a little further down in Act 60, in Section 13
“Department of Administration analysis“
SECTION 13. (A) This SECTION is effective upon approval by the Governor.
(B) The Department of Administration shall identify, select, retain, and procure the services of independent, third-party experts, consultants, or advisors to analyze the missions and delivery models of all state agencies concerned with the overall public health of the State, as well as certain specific populations including, but not limited to, children and adolescents, newborns, pregnant women, the elderly, disabled, mentally ill, special needs individuals, those with chemical dependencies, the chronically ill, economically disadvantaged, and veterans. This analysis will include, but not be limited to, the Department of Health and Environmental Control and its successor entities, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, and the Department on Aging. Any agencies identified by the Department of Administration as being subject to this analysis shall provide the department with any and all information requested and shall fully participate as requested and required.
(C) The analysis procured by the Department of Administration shall consider whether structural changes are necessary to improve health services delivery in the State, recognize operational efficiencies, and maximize resource utilization. Structural changes to be analyzed include reorganizations or mergers of existing health agencies, or divisions or components thereof, as well as the establishment of any new health agencies or the privatization of services currently provided by existing health agencies.
(D) The third-party experts, consultants, or advisors must make appropriate recommendations based on the analysis required pursuant to this section and the benefits of each recommendation.
The Boston Group completed its report and formally presented its findings to the legislature earlier this year. Those presentations are archived online, taking many questions from legislators alongside the Dept. of Administration’s executive director.
House Bill 4927 and Senate Bill 915, both of which propose a new Executive Office of Health and Policy, brings together six stand-alone health service agencies under one comprehensive executive office. Those current legislative efforts are independent of what Act 60 accomplished.
What does BCG believe?
This is World Economic Forum/Davos language that kills any momentum of liberty and capitalism espoused by the America First movement exampled by the Freedom Caucus in the S.C. House and Senate.
The Boston Group’s final, completed report isn’t due to the legislature formally until April 1.
BOILER PLATE CHANGES TO REFORM
Most of the language being used by the S.C. General Assembly to change S.C. DHEC was written in 2008. The language is simply being copied and pasted into the new legislation for the two different branches.
A HEALTH CZAR
Reports of a newly created Health Czar are circulating across the state in social media.
The truth is that South Carolina has a Health Czar today and his name is Edward Simmer. He currently has every power that the newly appointed head of DHEC health will be given.
DESTROYING LIBERTY
S.C. DHEC is a department with too much power. Bureaucratic growth is destroying liberty across the U.S.A. These bureaucrats all live in the same small bubble of world wide elites. Most make over $250,000 per year. They work four day weeks. They are provided health insurance. They get world class retirement packages. They are provided a company car.
Average South Carolinians do not live this way.
EXPERTS ON THE GROUND
Simmer, and other such bureaucrats are often called “experts on the ground” by Governor Henry McMaster. Most all bureaucrats are Democrats. They love big government and growing big government.
As we reported earlier today: The government now employs more Americans than the entire manufacturing sector combined. As the size of government grows, individual liberty dies.
WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO?
South Carolina’s General Assembly has divided S.C. DHEC.
It is incumbent for our elected officials to limit the scope, power and influence of every employee of S.C. DHEC as it creates this new health division.