Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2007 Session > Title 44

The South Carolina Legislative Council is offering access to the unannotated South Carolina Code of Laws on the Internet as a service to the public. The unannotated South Carolina Code on the General Assembly's website is now current through the 2007 regular session. The unannotated South Carolina Code, consisting only of Code text and numbering, may be copied from this website at the reader's expense and effort without need for permission.

The Legislative Council is unable to assist users of this service with legal questions. Also, legislative staff cannot respond to requests for legal advice or the application of the law to specific facts. Therefore, to understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult your own private lawyer regarding all legal questions.

While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the unannotated South Carolina Code available on the South Carolina General Assembly's website, the unannotated South Carolina Code is not official, and the state agencies preparing this website and the General Assembly are not responsible for any errors or omissions which may occur in these files. Only the current published volumes of the South Carolina Code of Laws Annotated and any pertinent acts and joint resolutions contain the official version.

Please note that the Legislative Council is not able to respond to individual inquiries regarding research or the features, format, or use of this website. However, you may notify Legislative Printing, Information and Technology Systems at LPITS@scstatehouse.net regarding any apparent errors or omissions in content of Code sections on this website, in which case LPITS will relay the information to appropriate staff members of the South Carolina Legislative Council for investigation.

Title 44 - Health

CHAPTER 125.

OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT EDUCATION

SECTION 44-125-10. Short title.

This chapter may be cited as the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Act.

SECTION 44-125-20. Establishment of Osteoporosis Education Fund; purpose.

(A) There is established the Osteoporosis Education Fund, separate and distinct from the general fund, in the State Treasury and to be administered by the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The purpose of the fund is to promote public awareness, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis.

(B) All funds received by the department for the Osteoporosis Education Fund must be deposited with the State Treasurer. Earnings on the funds must be credited to the fund. Funds remaining in the account for the fund at the end of the fiscal year may be carried forward by the fund.

SECTION 44-125-30. Establishment of Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program; functions.

To implement the purposes of the fund the department may establish an Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program and if funds are available and received from the Osteoporosis Education Fund may:

(1) conduct a statewide needs assessment to identify:

(a) available technical assistance and educational materials and programs nationwide;

(b) the level of public and professional awareness about osteoporosis;

(c) the needs of osteoporosis patients and of their families and caregivers;

(d) needs of health care providers;

(e) the services available to osteoporosis patients;

(f) existence of osteoporosis treatment programs;

(g) existence of osteoporosis support groups;

(h) existence of osteoporosis rehabilitation services;

(i) number and location of bone density testing equipment.

(2) design and implement strategies for raising public awareness of the causes and nature of osteoporosis, personal risk factors, the value of prevention and early detection, and options for diagnosing and treating osteoporosis;

(3) develop and work with other state and local agencies in presenting educational programs for physicians and other health professionals on the most up-to-date, accurate scientific and medical information on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic decision-making including, but not limited to, guidelines for detecting and treating the disease in special populations, risks and benefits of medications, and research advances; and

(4) develop, maintain, and make available a list of osteoporosis-related services and osteoporosis health care providers with specialization in services to prevent, diagnose, and treat osteoporosis.

SECTION 44-125-40. Staffing; training of staff; improvement of community-based services; maximization of state resources.

Additionally, the department, in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter, and if funds are available and received from the Osteoporosis Education Fund, may:

(1) employ qualified staff to implement the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program established by Section 44-125-30;

(2) provide appropriate training for staff of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program;

(3) work to improve the capacity of community-based services available to osteoporosis patients;

(4) work with other state and local governmental offices, community and business leaders, community organizations, health care and human service providers, and national osteoporosis organizations to coordinate efforts and maximize state resources in the areas of education, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis;

(5) identify and, when appropriate, replicate or use successful osteoporosis programs and procure related materials and services from organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of osteoporosis.