# South Carolina S 0531: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PATIENTS' RIGHT TO TRANSPARENCY AND TIMELY ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-10 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-20 SO AS TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FROM PREAUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS WHO MEET A NINETY PERCENT THRESHOLD OF PREAUTHORIZATION REQUESTS FOR MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS DURING A PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-30 SO AS TO REQUIRE A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-40 SO AS TO ESTABLISH TIMELINES FOR PREAUTHORIZATION DECISIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-50 SO AS TO PROHIBIT ONGOING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PATIENTS LIVING WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS AFTER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-60 SO AS TO PROHIBIT INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM SWITCHING PHARMACEUTICALS DURING A POLICY YEAR; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-70 SO AS TO ALLOW FOR STEP THERAPY EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-80 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONCE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS GRANTED, HEALTH CARRIERS MUST PAY FOR THE SERVICE WITH EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-90 SO AS TO REQUIRE CONTINUITY OF CARE WHEN A PATIENT CHANGES INSURANCE POLICIES; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-100 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN FILINGS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR TRANSPARENCY CONCERNING APPROVAL AND DENIAL RATES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CHAPTER. South Carolina S 0531, A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PATIENTS' RIGHT TO TRANSPARENCY AND TIMELY ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-10 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-20 SO AS TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FROM PREAUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS WHO MEET A NINETY PERCENT THRESHOLD OF PREAUTHORIZATION REQUESTS FOR MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS DURING A PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-30 SO AS TO REQUIRE A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-40 SO AS TO ESTABLISH TIMELINES FOR PREAUTHORIZATION DECISIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-50 SO AS TO PROHIBIT ONGOING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PATIENTS LIVING WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS AFTER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-60 SO AS TO PROHIBIT INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM SWITCHING PHARMACEUTICALS DURING A POLICY YEAR; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-70 SO AS TO ALLOW FOR STEP THERAPY EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-80 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONCE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS GRANTED, HEALTH CARRIERS MUST PAY FOR THE SERVICE WITH EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-90 SO AS TO REQUIRE CONTINUITY OF CARE WHEN A PATIENT CHANGES INSURANCE POLICIES; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-100 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN FILINGS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR TRANSPARENCY CONCERNING APPROVAL AND DENIAL RATES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CHAPTER., is a 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Michael Johnson (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-04-02 (Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0531-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: South Carolina S 0531 - State: South Carolina - Session: 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS SO AS TO ENACT THE "PATIENTS' RIGHT TO TRANSPARENCY AND TIMELY ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACT"; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-10 SO AS TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-20 SO AS TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FROM PREAUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS WHO MEET A NINETY PERCENT THRESHOLD OF PREAUTHORIZATION REQUESTS FOR MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS DURING A PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-30 SO AS TO REQUIRE A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-40 SO AS TO ESTABLISH TIMELINES FOR PREAUTHORIZATION DECISIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-50 SO AS TO PROHIBIT ONGOING PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PATIENTS LIVING WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS AFTER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-60 SO AS TO PROHIBIT INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM SWITCHING PHARMACEUTICALS DURING A POLICY YEAR; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-70 SO AS TO ALLOW FOR STEP THERAPY EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-80 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ONCE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION IS GRANTED, HEALTH CARRIERS MUST PAY FOR THE SERVICE WITH EXCEPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-90 SO AS TO REQUIRE CONTINUITY OF CARE WHEN A PATIENT CHANGES INSURANCE POLICIES; BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-100 SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN FILINGS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR TRANSPARENCY CONCERNING APPROVAL AND DENIAL RATES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-116-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE CHAPTER. - Status: failed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-04-02 - Last action: 2025-04-02, Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs - Sponsor: Michael Johnson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 4 - Touches household money: no - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Healthcare Services ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Michael Johnson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Tameika Isaac Devine (Democrat), Senate - Cosponsor: Carlisle Kennedy (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Harvey S. Peeler, Jr. (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Overture Walker (Democrat), Senate ## Actions (2) - 2025-04-02: Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs (Senate) - 2025-04-02: Introduced and read first time (Senate) ## Bill text - Introduced: [HTML](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/531.htm) ## Related bills - S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO INSTEAD ENFORCE AE STANDARDS IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY'S FLOOD DAMA… (became law) - S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATIO… (signed) - H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE METHOD BY WHICH PERSONS FILE TO BECOME A CANDI… (signed) - S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO DETERMINATION OF RATES OF TUITION AND FEES, DESIGNATED AS RE… (signed) - S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS; TO PROVID… (signed) - H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING AS PROVIDED FOR IN CHAPTER 3, TITLE 61 TO MAY 1, 2026. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced (HTML)](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/531.htm) ## Related - [S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO AL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0623-2025-2026) - [S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0586-2025-2026) - [H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD O…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5653-2025-2026) - [S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDU…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S1062-2025-2026) - [S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0779-2025-2026) - [H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5261-2025-2026) - [South Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina/bills) - [South Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0531-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).