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Senate Medical Affairs committee: appointments and bills — votes at a glance
Summary
The committee approved two statewide pharmacy board appointments and issued favorable reports on multiple health‑related bills; it carried over a kratom bill for further study.
The Senate Medical Affairs Committee on Oct. 12 took final action on several agenda items: it approved two statewide appointments to the State Board of Pharmacy, reported multiple bills favorably to the Senate (some as amended), and carried over a kratom consumer‑protection bill for further information and possible redrafting.
Appointments
- Cassie Eunice — The committee swore in and recommended a favorable report for Cassie Eunice (pharmacist, Sixth Congressional District) to the State Board of Pharmacy. Eunice described herself as a pharmacist since 2016, a University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy graduate and pharmacy-in-charge at Hawthorne Pharmacy’s Taylor Street store where the practice includes retail and compounding. The committee recorded a voice vote; the motion to report her favorably passed.
- Josias Garcia — The committee swore in and recommended a favorable report for Josias Garcia to fill the at‑large pharmacy technician seat (the first technician seat on the board). Garcia described his experience as a technician since 2006, with work in hospital, retail and compounding; he currently manages compounding labs for Plantation Pharmacy in Charleston. The committee approved his appointment by voice vote.
Bills and committee actions (votes at a glance)
- S.161 (pain‑parity / opioid alternatives) — Subcommittee amendments were adopted to (1) confirm that the Department of Health and Human Services may include FDA‑approved alternatives on its preferred drug list without a legislative mandate, and (2) change a physician duty to an offer of educational material prepared by DHHS rather than a required physician obligation. The committee reported S.161 favorably as amended (voice vote).
- S.221 (South Carolina Kratom Consumer Protection Act) — Committee members heard that the subcommittee had no controversy but later received information from stakeholders (including Wanda Crotwell). The committee agreed to carry the bill over to allow additional input; no final vote was taken.
- S.236 (anesthesiologist assistants) — The committee adopted a favorable subcommittee recommendation to change the physician supervision ratio for anesthesiologist assistants from the current 2:1 to 4:1 (bringing South Carolina in line with approximately 19 other states) and to remove an in‑person BME certification appearance requirement. The committee reported the bill favorably by voice vote.
- S.170 (surgical smoke) — The committee adopted a negotiated amendment that clarified the definition of smoke‑evacuation equipment and established staggered compliance dates so smaller rural hospitals would have additional time to implement equipment. Major hospital systems were assigned an earlier compliance date (effective July 1, 2026) while smaller hospitals meeting specified exceptions would have until 2027. The committee reported S.170 favorably as amended (voice vote).
Procedural notes: Most actions were taken by voice vote and recorded as “ayes have it” in the transcript; the committee did not provide roll‑call tallies in the hearing record.
Why it matters: The actions advance nominee confirmations to a regulatory board that affects pharmacy practice and move several public‑health bills to the full Senate, including statutes intended to address opioid alternatives, workplace safety for operating room staff, and professional scope for anesthesiology assistants. The carryover of the kratom bill signals further stakeholder engagement is expected.
