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A43, R32, H3443
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Long, Erickson, Daning, Atwater, Bradley, Hixon, Newton, Ridgeway, Simrill, Spires, G.M. Smith, Weeks and Johnson
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ms\7071ahb15.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 466
Introduced in the House on January 28, 2015
Introduced in the Senate on March 31, 2015
Passed by the General Assembly on April 28, 2015
Governor's Action: May 7, 2015, Signed
Summary: Optometrists
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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1/28/2015 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 12)
1/28/2015 House Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and
Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 12)
2/4/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: G.M.Smith, Weeks
3/19/2015 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Johnson
3/25/2015 House Committee report: Favorable Medical, Military, Public
and Municipal Affairs (House Journal-page 64)
3/26/2015 House Read second time (House Journal-page 29)
3/26/2015 House Roll call Yeas-99 Nays-0 (House Journal-page 29)
3/26/2015 House Unanimous consent for third reading on next legislative
day (House Journal-page 30)
3/27/2015 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journal-page 2)
3/31/2015 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)
3/31/2015 Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
(Senate Journal-page 8)
4/1/2015 Senate Recalled from Committee on Medical Affairs
(Senate Journal-page 3)
4/23/2015 Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 22)
4/23/2015 Senate Roll call Ayes-41 Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 22)
4/28/2015 Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 13)
5/7/2015 Ratified R 32
5/7/2015 Signed By Governor
5/14/2015 Effective date 05/07/15
6/9/2015 Act No. 43
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
(A43, R32, H3443)
AN ACT 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:
Optometrists, prescribing of certain pharmaceutical agents, exception for certain reclassified controlled substances
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."
Time effective
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
Ratified the 7th day of May, 2015.
Approved the 7th day of May, 2015.
This web page was last updated on July 20, 2015 at 4:24 PM