The bill H. 4335 aims to amend Section 40-47-37 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which governs the practice of telemedicine in the state. The key change allows medical licensees to be considered actively practicing medicine within South Carolina's geographic boundaries without the requirement to reside or maintain a physical office in the state, provided they hold a valid South Carolina medical license. Additionally, the bill clarifies that licensees residing in South Carolina who wish to practice telemedicine for patients outside the state must adhere to the regulations of other applicable state licensing boards.

Furthermore, the bill outlines specific exceptions regarding telehealth services provided by out-of-state providers. It states that informal consultations or second opinions requested by a South Carolina-licensed physician do not require the out-of-state provider to be licensed in South Carolina, as long as the requesting physician retains responsibility for the patient's care. The bill also specifies that ongoing care provided via telehealth by an out-of-state provider, in conjunction with an established in-person physician-patient relationship in another state, is permissible under certain conditions. However, it explicitly excludes episodic care, new health conditions unrelated to the existing treatment, and prolonged care without in-person visits from these exceptions.

Statutes affected:
04/09/2025: 40-47-37
Latest Version: 40-47-37