'Marlboro Community Fights Back: Say No to Telehealth Tax Hike'

Many individuals attended an unexpected meeting held by the Marlboro County Council on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the suggested ordinance 851.

This ordinance addresses a telehealth initiative aimed at linking residents with healthcare providers quickly through dialing an 800 number.

Dr. Dirk Perritt from MD Health Pathways provided an extensive overview of the program and detailed ways for community members to utilize it.

This service offers immediate access to medical professionals, complete primary health management for different ailments, without requiring insurance, co-pays, or scheduling appointments. Doctors will also send you written statements as needed. It operates with extended availability seven days a week from 8 AM until 10 PM, including holidays. There’s no additional charge for using this extensive support whenever necessary, and caregivers ensure they direct each participant effectively through their treatment journey.

Since April 2015, the county has not had a hospital. Throughout the year, Marlboro County EMS remains quite active, transporting patients to nearby hospitals located in Dillon, Laurinburg, Cheraw, and Florence.

Some think that the telehealth initiative perfectly suits the needs of the rural and underprivileged areas within the county.

The telehealth program would cost Marlboro County taxpayers $108 a year or $9 a month added to their annual property tax bills.

They needed to actively choose not to pay the fee, which sparked controversy within the community.

I believe it should be an opt-in scenario. We shouldn't have the option to opt-out, but I also don't think it should appear on our bills. Instead, let those who desire this service sign up voluntarily," explained Vanessa Tadlock Baker. "We shouldn't impose additional taxes for telemedicine since many of our insurance plans cover these services as they are.

"Notions of incorporating elements into our tax returns aren’t problematic during the process, but rather when we attempt to remove them later," stated Antoinette Balfour.

Some argued that numerous senior citizens within the community lack the ability to opt-out and cannot afford the service.

“I’m here to talk about my mother. She is a widow and a senior citizen. Adding more expenses to her tax bill would be too much for her; both my sister and I review her finances regularly to ensure everything is managed correctly. Sometimes, she overlooks certain aspects of her taxes because she isn’t familiar with them. This can lead to paying for services she doesn’t use at all. Personally, I don’t require such things since I receive free telehealth benefits from my insurance plan, as does my spouse,” explained Donna Kincer.

"Ideally, this option should require opting in explicitly. Many residents of our county simply cannot manage the costs involved with this initiative. There’s also an extensive population of seniors who may struggle with such changes. Additionally, numerous individuals residing in Marlboro County lack internet connectivity or computer resources entirely. Should we find ourselves unable to structure this program as one which requires voluntary enrollment, then my stance shifts towards supporting those most in need within these communities. However, unless adjustments are made accordingly, the entire proposal must be reconsidered for Marlboro County," stated Carolyn Grooms.

Several inhabitants, such as Dr. Rippen McLeod and Michael Toms, raised concerns about whether individuals owning multiple properties might end up paying more taxes than necessary.

"If you're going through with this plan, let it be voluntary; don't impose it on us. Because if you enforce it upon everyone, we have the power to replace the board. It’s really that straightforward," stated McLeod.

Three individuals expressed their support for it during the meeting from nearby Chesterfield County, which already has the telehealth initiative in place.

Nevertheless, numerous individuals did not appreciate their Chesterfield County neighbors intervening in the situation.

“There needs to be some more openness here. We value your presence at Chesterfield County, but let’s focus on Marlboro County now. After all, we’re the ones paying the taxes and making investments in this area,” stated Jackie Anderson.

Chris Dunn mentioned that he gets that some individuals lacking insurance might require the assistance provided by telehealth services; however, choosing not to enroll isn’t considered the correct approach.

I’m fed up with extra charges being tacked onto my bill for things I neither desire nor require. I’ve been using their service for the past two years now. It’s annoying having to pay twice for what should be one offering. If we must use them, let it be through a nearby provider rather than one from Texas,” stated Dunn.

Marlboro County Councilwoman Pearlie Lawson aimed to ensure that her constituents and other community members were aware of Ordinance 851.

In recent times, Lawson has been out and about, knocking on doors and informing community members about the upcoming public hearing.

The Marlboro County Council members rejected the current version of the ordinance, but they have the option to revise it into a voluntary selection process.