CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) presented South Carolina Senator Thomas Alexander with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service. President of the State Senate and leader of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Alexander champions telehealth and rural health care access, and has been a strong proponent of behavioral health access, particularly in elementary and middle school settings.
Senator Alexander also led the way during the COVID-19 pandemic, sponsoring the South Carolina COVID-19 Liability Safe Harbor Act, which provided liability protection for physicians providing care for an unknown disease and delaying treatment of non-COVID patients due to the overwhelming nature of the pandemic.
“In a rapidly changing health care landscape, Senator Thomas Alexander has been a nimble and vocal advocate for patients and physicians, alike, striving to expand telehealth access, reach more patients in rural areas, and, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring access to behavioral and mental health services,” said AMA Board Chair Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D. “A bipartisan leader, bridgebuilder and dedicated public servant, Senator Alexander has always prioritized hearing from his constituents, and, especially on health care issues, listening to and engaging with South Carolina physicians. It is an honor to present him with the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service.”
Senator Alexander’s career in public service spans 35 years. Before his election to the State Senate, he served in the State House from 1987 to 1994. He has also served on the Board of the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Health and as vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislators Health and Human Services Committee.
Senator Alexander is one of six honorees chosen this year to receive the AMA Award for Outstanding Government Service. Award winners come from every branch of government service and are a testament to the important role public officials play in creating and implementing health policy that benefits Americans.
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
