A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 40-43-230, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF PHARMACISTS TO DISPENSE OR ADMINISTER CERTAIN INJECTABLE HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES BY STANDING ORDER OF A PRESCRIBER, SO AS TO PROVIDE THESE DISPENSATIONS OR ADMINISTRATIONS ALTERNATIVELY MAY BE MADE PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN JOINT PROTOCOL ISSUED BY THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND THE BOARD OF PHARMACY.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 40-43-230(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (A) A person licensed under the South Carolina Pharmacy Practice Act who is acting in good faith and exercising reasonable care as a pharmacist and who is employed by a hospital or a pharmacy that is permitted by this State may dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive or administer an injectable hormonal contraceptive pursuant to a written joint protocol issued by the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy or by standing order by a prescriber to a patient who is:

       (1) eighteen years of age or older; or

       (2) under eighteen years of age if the person has evidence of a previous prescription from a practitioner for a self-administered hormonal contraceptive or an injectable hormonal contraceptive.

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

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