S 0466 General Bill, By Cleary, Alexander, Bright and Davis

Similar(H 3443)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 40-37-290, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE PURCHASING, POSSESSING, ADMINISTERING, SUPPLYING, AND
 PRESCRIBING OF CERTAIN PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS BY OPTOMETRISTS AND THE
 PROHIBITION ON SCHEDULE I AND II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT
 SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES THAT HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED FROM SCHEDULE
 III TO SCHEDULE II ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 6, 2014, MAY CONTINUE TO BE PURCHASED,
 POSSESSED, ADMINISTERED, SUPPLIED, AND PRESCRIBED BY AN OPTOMETRIST.

   02/18/15  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 5)
   02/18/15  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
                     (Senate Journal-page 5)
   03/10/15  Senate Committee report: Favorable Medical Affairs
                     (Senate Journal-page 21)
   03/12/15  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 13)
   03/12/15  Senate Roll call Ayes-41  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 13)
   04/15/15  Senate Read third time and sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 15)
   04/16/15  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 27)
   04/16/15  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 27)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 10, 2015

S. 466

S. Printed 3/10/15--S.

Read the first time February 18, 2015.

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 466) to amend Section 40-37-290, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the purchasing, possessing, administering, supplying, and prescribing of certain, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

HARVEY S. PEELER, JR. for Committee.

TO AMEND SECTION 40-37-290, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PURCHASING, POSSESSING, ADMINISTERING, SUPPLYING, AND PRESCRIBING OF CERTAIN PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS BY OPTOMETRISTS AND THE PROHIBITION ON SCHEDULE I AND II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES THAT HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED FROM SCHEDULE III TO SCHEDULE II ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 6, 2014, MAY CONTINUE TO BE PURCHASED, POSSESSED, ADMINISTERED, SUPPLIED, AND PRESCRIBED BY AN OPTOMETRIST.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 40-37-290 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 40-37-290.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an optometrist may purchase, possess, administer, supply, and prescribe pharmaceutical agents, including oral and topically applied medications other than Schedule I and II controlled substances as defined in Section 44-53-110 except controlled substances that have been reclassified from Schedule III to Schedule II effective on or after October 6, 2014, may continue to be purchased, possessed, administered, supplied, and prescribed by an optometrist, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the practice of optometry, except that:

(1)    when prescribing oral and topically applied medications, an optometrist is limited to these oral pharmaceutical agents: antihistamines, antimicrobial, antiglaucoma, over-the-counter drugs, and analgesics for the treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal eye disease. An optometrist may only prescribe these medications for the treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal eye disease;

(2)    when prescribing medications for the treatment of ocular and ocular adnexal disease, documentation in the patient's chart and appropriate consultations and referrals must be in accordance with the standard of care provided for in Section 40-37-310(E);

(3)    when prescribing analgesics, the prescription must be limited to a seven-day supply;

(4) when prescribing topical steroids, if after twenty-one days of treatment it is necessary to continue this medication, the optometrist shall communicate and collaborate with an ophthalmologist;

(5)    no medications may be given by injection or intravenously."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.