COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Too many South Carolinians are forced to wait months or longer for doctor’s appointments and then have to make a long drive to get there because no providers work in their area.

It’s one of the reasons South Carolina ranks among the worst states in the nation when it comes to healthcare access.

On Wednesday, a Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee held the first of two hearings to consider nearly a dozen bills designed to fix that.

Much of the focus during the first day was on two bills that would give healthcare professionals who aren’t doctors more independence to provide care.

“It’s always a balance between increasing the access and providing for patient safety,” Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort and the lead sponsor of both bills, said.

Under current South Carolina l

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