South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 47 - Physicians And Miscellaneous Health Care Professionals
Section 40-47-965. Requirements for writing prescriptions for drugs, controlled substances, and medical devices.

(A) If the written scope of practice guidelines authorizes the PA to prescribe drug therapy:
(1) prescriptions for authorized drugs and devices shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws;
(2) prescriptions must be limited to drugs and devices authorized by the supervising physician and set forth in the written scope of practice guidelines;
(3) prescriptions must be signed or electronically submitted by the PA and must bear the PA's identification number as assigned by the board and all prescribing numbers required by law. The preprinted prescription form shall include both the PA's and physician's name, address, and phone number, and, if possible, the physician through the electronic system, and shall comply with the provisions of Section 39-24-40;
(4) drugs or devices prescribed must be specifically documented in the patient record;
(5) the PA may request, receive, and sign for professional samples of drugs authorized in the written scope of practice guidelines and may distribute professional samples to patients in compliance with appropriate federal and state regulations and the written scope of practice guidelines;
(6) the PA may authorize prescriptions for an orally administered Schedule II controlled substance, as defined in the federal Controlled Substances Act, pursuant to the following requirements:
(a) the authorization to prescribe is expressly approved by the supervising physician as set forth in the PA's written scope of practice guidelines;
(b) the PA has directly evaluated the patient, provided, however, that a PA may authorize a prescription if the PA is assigned to take calls for the supervising physician or alternate supervising physician treating the patient;
(c) the authority to prescribe a Schedule II narcotic controlled substance is limited to an initial prescription not to exceed a five-day supply;
(d) any subsequent prescription authorization for a Schedule II narcotic controlled substance after the initial prescription must be in consultation with and approved by the supervising physician, and such approval must be documented in the patient's chart; and
(e) any prescription for continuing drug therapy must include consultation with the supervising physician and must be documented in the patient's chart;
(7) the PA may authorize a medical order for parenteral administration of a Schedule II controlled substance, as defined in the federal Controlled Substances Act, pursuant to the following requirements:
(a) the authorization to write a medical order is expressly approved by the supervising physician as set forth in the PA's written scope of practice guidelines;
(b) the PA is providing patient care in a hospital setting, including emergency and outpatient departments affiliated with the hospital;
(c) an initial patient examination and evaluation has been performed by the supervising physician, or his delegate physician, and has been documented in the patient's chart; however, in a hospital emergency department, a PA may authorize such a medical order if the supervising or delegate physician is unavailable due to clinical demands, but remains on the premises and is immediately available, and the supervising or delegate physician conducts the patient evaluation as soon as practicable and is documented in the patient's chart;
(d) the PA has directly evaluated the patient, provided, however, that the PA may authorize a medical order if the PA is assigned to take call for the supervising physician or alternate supervising physician treating the patient; and
(e) the written medical order may not exceed a one-time administration within a twenty-four hour period without the approval of the supervising physician or alternate supervising physician, and such approval must be documented in the patient's chart.
(B) When applying for controlled substance prescriptive authority, the applicant shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) the PA shall provide evidence of education in pharmacotherapeutics as determined by the board before application;
(2) every two years, the PA shall provide documentation of four continuing education hours related to approved procedures of prescribing and monitoring controlled substances listed in Schedules II, III, and IV of the schedules provided for in Sections 44-53-210, 44-53-230, and 44-53-250; and
(3) the PA must have a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and prescribe in accordance with DEA rules.
(C) A PA's prescriptive authorization may be terminated by the board if the PA:
(1) practices outside the written scope of practice guidelines;
(2) violates any state or federal law or regulation applicable to prescriptions; or
(3) violates a state or federal law applicable to PAs.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 359, Section 1; 2006 Act No. 244, Section 7; 2013 Act No. 28, Section 9, eff May 21, 2013; 2017 Act No. 91 (H.3824), Section 7, eff May 19, 2017; 2019 Act No. 32 (S.132), Section 2, eff August 11, 2019.
Effect of Amendment
The 2013 amendment, in subsection (A)(5), deleted ", except for controlled substances in Schedule II," before "and may distribute professional samples"; added subsections (A)(6), (A)(7), and (B)(4); and redesignated former subsection (B)(4) as (B)(5).
2017 Act No. 91, Section 7, amended (B)(3), relating to adding requirements addressing the prescription and monitoring of certain controlled substances.
2019 Act No. 32, Section 2, rewrote the section.

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