Legal Status of EPT in New York
EPT is permissible.
I. Statutes/regs on health care providers’ authority to prescribe for STDs to a patient’s partner(s) w/out prior evaluation (Explanation) | “Notwithstanding any other provision of law and consistent with section two thousand three hundred five of this title, a health care practitioner (who is authorized under title eight of the education law to diagnose and prescribe drugs for sexually transmitted chlamydia trachomatis infection and other sexually transmitted infections, acting within his or her lawful scope of practice) who diagnoses a sexually transmitted chlamydia trachomatis infection or other sexually transmitted infection in an individual patient may prescribe, dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide prescription antibiotic drugs for the sexually transmitted infections for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of expedited partner therapy to that patient’s sexual partner or partners without examination of that patient’s partner or partners.” N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2312 (effective 1/1/2020) New York released rules in support of its statutory authorization of EPT, which includes eligibility criteria for EPT, requirements for educational materials to be provided to patients who are provided with EPT treatment, EPT prescription format requirements, and reporting procedures for cases of EPT. Dep’t. N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10, § 23.5. |
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II. Specific judicial decisions concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation) | Judicial decisions suggest that providing prescription without prior examination is physician misconduct. Carloni v. De Buono 245 A.D.2d 970, 972 (N.Y.App. Div. 1997)*; Balmir v. De Buono 237 A.D.2d 648*, 649 (N.Y. App. Div.1997).* |
III. Specific administrative opinions by the Attorney General or medical or pharmacy boards concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation) | |
IV. Laws that incorporate via reference guidelines as acceptable practices (including EPT) (Explanation) | Any persons diagnosed as having chlamydia or gonorrhea, in facilities provided by the state for the diagnosis and treatment of STDs, shall be treated directly in the facility with appropriate medication in accordance with accepted medical procedures as described in the most recent evidence-based STD guidelines treatment schedule distributed by the New York State Department of Health. N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10, § 23.2. |
V. Prescription requirements (Explanation) | Prescription must bear the patient’s name, address, and age. N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8, § 29.2.* |
VI. Assessment of EPT’s legal status with brief comments (Explanation) | EPT is permissible. Statutory authority expressly authorizes EPT for the treatment of chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of expedited partner therapy. |
* This legal authority predates the effective date of the state’s law that authorizes EPT. Status as of January 1, 2020 |
Legend
supports the use of EPT
negatively affects the use of EPT
EPT is permissible
EPT is potentially allowable
EPT is prohibited
EPT is permissible in 46 states: | EPT is potentially allowable in 4 states: | EPT is prohibited in 0 states: |
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Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming EPT is permissible in the District of Columbia. EPT is permissible in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. |
Alabama Kansas Oklahoma South Dakota EPT is potentially allowable in Puerto Rico and Guam. |
Summary Totals
The information presented here is not legal advice, nor is it a comprehensive analysis of all the legal provisions that could implicate the legality of EPT in a given jurisdiction. The data and assessment are intended to be used as a tool to assist state and local health departments as they determine locally appropriate ways to control STDs.
For comments, feedback and updates, please contact CDC-INFO: https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/.