Committee Report

April 30, 2025

 

S. 449

 

Introduced by Senators Verdin and Kimbrell

 

S. Printed 4/30/25--S.

Read the first time March 13, 2025

 

________

 

The committee on Senate Medical Affairs

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 449) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 40-43-30, relating to definitions for the South Carolina Pharmacy Practice Act, so as to provide a definition, etc., respectfully

Report:

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

 

DANIEL VERDIN for Committee.

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-30, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-43-245 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE PHARMACISTS AND PHYSICIANS TO ENTER INTO COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-47-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS FOR PHYSICIANS AND MISCELLANEOUS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 40-47-205 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE PHYSICIANS AND PHARMACISTS TO ENTER INTO COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS; AND TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY AND THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS AND TO PROVIDE THAT COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AGREEMENTS MAY NOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL AFTER THE REGULATIONS ARE EFFECTIVE.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 40-43-30 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    (62) "Collaborative practice agreement" means a written agreement between a pharmacist and a physician, both of whom are licensed and in good standing in this State, actively practicing, and physically located within the geographic boundaries of this State, that sets out a plan to provide evidence-based medication management services and other related patient care services that support the treatment goals established by the physician including, but not limited to, monitoring, education, and assessments for specifically identified patients delegated to the pharmacist by the physician responsible for treating the patients. The pharmacist and the physician must have access to the same electronic medical records system or, if that is not practicable, must develop a HIPAA-compliant method to share written medical records to document regular, secure, and timely communication between the physician and the pharmacist to ensure coordinated patient care.

 

SECTION 2.  Chapter 43, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 40-43-245. Pharmacists are authorized to enter into collaborative practice agreements with physicians.

SECTION 3.  Section 40-47-20 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    (60) "Collaborative practice agreement" means a written agreement between a pharmacist and a physician, both of whom are licensed and in good standing in this State, actively practicing, and physically located within the geographic boundaries of this State, that sets out a plan to provide evidence-based medication management services and other related patient care services that support the treatment goals established by the physician including, but not limited to, monitoring, education, and assessments for specifically identified patients delegated to the pharmacist by the physician responsible for treating the patients. The pharmacist and the physician must have access to the same electronic medical records system or, if that is not practicable, must develop a HIPAA-compliant method to share written medical records to document regular, secure, and timely communication between the physician and the pharmacist to ensure coordinated patient care.

 

SECTION 4.  Chapter 47, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 40-47-205. Physicians are authorized to enter into collaborative practice agreements with pharmacists.

 

SECTION 5.  The State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners shall each promulgate regulations governing the use of collaborative practice agreements. Collaborative practice agreements may not be implemented until the effective date of the regulations promulgated pursuant to this section.

 

SECTION 6.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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