The bill S. 449 aims to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to establish and define "collaborative practice agreements" between pharmacists and physicians. It introduces a new definition for these agreements in both the Pharmacy Practice Act and the Medical Practice Act, specifying that they are written agreements that outline plans for evidence-based medication management and related patient care services. The bill emphasizes the importance of communication between pharmacists and physicians, requiring them to either share an electronic medical records system or develop a HIPAA-compliant method for sharing medical records to ensure coordinated patient care.

Additionally, the bill authorizes both pharmacists and physicians to enter into these collaborative practice agreements and mandates that the State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners create regulations governing their use. Importantly, the implementation of these agreements is contingent upon the effective date of the regulations established by these boards. The bill will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
03/13/2025: 40-43-30, 40-43-245, 40-47-20, 40-47-205
Latest Version: 40-43-30, 40-43-245, 40-47-20, 40-47-205