The Bleeding Disorders Association of South Carolina (BDASC) has a long-standing history of collaboration with the South Carolina Legislature, but recently, thanks to your involvement, we’ve been able to significantly broaden our reach, working with an increasing number of members from both the South Carolina House of Representatives and the Senate. A key strategy in expanding and strengthening these relationships has been our annual Legislative Breakfast, hosted each January. This event has proven to be an invaluable opportunity to foster connections, engage directly with lawmakers, and continue advocating for the needs of individuals affected by bleeding disorders. Through this consistent presence at the Capitol, BDASC is reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in advancing meaningful legislative change.
BDASC Legislative Breakfast, Another Success!
This year, BDASC proudly hosted its 3rd Annual Legislative Breakfast at the Capitol on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025. This event provides an invaluable opportunity for Chapter leadership and patient advocates to engage directly with members of the legislature and Capitol staff in a relaxed, informal setting over a delicious breakfast. Averaging around 250 attendees each year, this year’s event was no exception in its success. Catered by Lizard’s Thicket, the morning allowed our members to connect with lawmakers and discuss the community’s legislative priorities in a meaningful and personal way. The breakfast continues to be a key event in strengthening our advocacy efforts and building lasting relationships with those who can make a real difference.
This year, BDASC added a special touch to the Legislative Breakfast with a brief but impactful program. Attendees were honored to hear from Representative Carla Schuessler (R-61st), one of our dedicated community champions, who shared her continued support for our cause. Following Representative Schuessler’s remarks, two patient advocates, Virginia Maxwell and Colt Gallaway, spoke candidly about their personal struggles navigating health insurance with copay accumulators. Their powerful testimonies brought the real-world challenges faced by our community to the forefront. After the breakfast, our members took the opportunity to personally visit their legislators, continuing the important conversations and advocating for meaningful change.
When Representatives Hardee (R-105th) and Schuessler (R-61st) introduced our Copay Accumulator bill (H. 3934), it was with the support of approximately 70 cosponsors. This level of backing reflects the success of our advocacy efforts, and the BDASC Legislative Breakfast played a crucial role in generating early momentum for our legislative agenda. Your involvement—and that of your family—was instrumental in making this progress possible. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue this work together and look forward to seeing you on BDASC Advocacy Day later this month, where we’ll continue pushing for the change our community needs.