South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Here’s a refined summary of Chapter 61 – Department of Health and Environmental Control from the South Carolina Code of Regulations, current as of March 28, 2025:
📋 Overview & Structure
Chapter 61 establishes regulations under the former Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), now split into two agencies effective July 1, 2024: the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Environmental Services (DES) (en.wikipedia.org). The chapter consists of numerous subchapters (61‑1 through 61‑125), covering a wide range of health and environmental programs (scstatehouse.gov).
🚫 Key Subchapters & Highlights
61‑3 – Hearing Aids
Regulates licensing, practice, temporary permits, fees, and ethics in fitting/selling hearing aids (scstatehouse.gov).
61‑4 – Controlled Substances
Extensive controls on registration, security, record-keeping, prescriptions, labeling, disposal, inspections, and handling Schedules II–V (law.cornell.edu).
61‑7 – Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Covers licensure, certification, personnel, patient care, ambulance and air ambulance standards, sanitation, medication, reporting, and enforcement (regulations.justia.com).
61‑8 & 61‑22 – Immunization and TB Screening
Requirements for immunizations in school/childcare and tuberculosis testing for staff and students.
61‑9 – Water Pollution Control Permits
Regulations for water-quality permits, including secondary treatment standards (scstatehouse.gov, law.cornell.edu, casetext.com).
61‑12 – Abortion Clinic Licensing
Licensing standards and operating requirements for abortion clinics.
61‑13 – Facilities for Intellectual Disability
Standards for habilitation centers serving individuals with intellectual disabilities.
61‑15 – Certificate of Need (CON)
Defines CON requirements and exemptions for health facilities (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes); includes capital expenditure thresholds (adjusted July 1, 2025) (scstatehouse.gov, law.cornell.edu).
61‑16 – Hospital Licensing Standards
Minimum facility requirements, ground for licensure, emergency preparedness, and COVID‑19-related waivers .
61‑17 – Nursing Home Standards
Licensing criteria, staffing, safety, infection control, resident rights, and facility design.
61‑19 to 61‑22 – Vital Statistics, Communicable & Sexually Transmitted Diseases; TB screening.
61‑24 – Licensed Midwives
Standards, competency, and certification requirements.
61‑25 – Retail Food Establishments
Health and sanitation rules for food service businesses (dph.sc.gov, dph.sc.gov).
61‑29 to 61‑31 – Environmental health inspections, fees, and cooperative agreements for hospitals/clinics.
61‑32 – Bottling Plants & Dairy
Regulations for soft drink/water bottling; dairy lab functions moved under Department of Agriculture (law.cornell.edu, en.wikipedia.org).
61‑33 to 61‑37 – Dry Cleaning restoration, raw milk safety, frozen desserts, and repealed chapters.
61‑84 – Community Residential Facilities
Standards addressing physical and psychological abuse definitions, resident safety, and facility oversight (law.cornell.edu, dph.sc.gov).
61‑91 – Ambulatory Surgical Facilities
Licensing, staffing, equipment, infection control, emergency protocols, and patient rights (regulations.justia.com).
61‑93, 61‑97, 61‑102, 61‑111, 61‑123, 61‑125, etc.
Cover licensed facilities for substance abuse, dialysis, birthing centers, tattoo/body-piercing studios, congenital heart defect screening, crisis units, and more (dph.sc.gov).
✅ Summary Table
| Subchapter | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| 61‑3 | Hearing aid licensing & ethics |
| 61‑4 | Controlled substance rules |
| 61‑7 | EMS licensure & operations |
| 61‑8/22 | Immunization & TB requirements |
| 61‑9 | Water pollution permits |
| 61‑12 | Abortion clinic licensing |
| 61‑13 | Disability habilitation centers |
| 61‑15 | Certificate of Need regulation |
| 61‑16 | Hospital facility licensing |
| 61‑17 | Nursing home standards |
| 61‑19–22 | Disease reporting & statistics |
| 61‑24 | Midwife practice standards |
| 61‑25 | Food service sanitation |
| 61‑29–31 | Environmental inspections & fees |
| 61‑32–37 | Bottling, dairy, raw milk, etc. |
| 61‑84 | Residential care facility safety |
| 61‑91 | Ambulatory surgical facility rules |
| 61‑93+ | Additional healthcare & facility regs |
RELATED Blog
0 comments