Rep. BAMBERG proposes the following amendment (LC-4760.VR0021H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X. Chapter 41, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 Section 44-41-850. (A) For purposes of this section, "rural or medically underserved area" means any county, census tract, or population designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or Medically Underserved Area or Population (MUA/MUP), or identified as rural by the South Carolina Office of Rural Health.
 (B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a patient residing in a rural or medically underserved area shall not be denied access to lawful medical care or prescription medication due to geographic distance, lack of local providers, pharmacy closures, or workforce shortages. For such patients, lawful medical care, consultation, and prescribing may be provided via telemedicine where clinically appropriate, and pharmacies may dispense prescriptions without additional requirements that would delay or effectively deny care. Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand or limit the legality of any medical procedure under South Carolina law.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.