Legal Status of EPT in New York

permissible EPT is permissible.

This is a table caption for compliance. Please ignore it.
I. Statutes/regs on health care providers’ authority to prescribe for STDs to a patient’s partner(s) w/out prior evaluation (Explanation) plus sign “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)
plus sign 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.
II. Specific judicial decisions concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation) minus symbol 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) plus sign 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) minus symbol 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) permissible 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

plus sign supports the use of EPT

minus symbol negatively affects the use of EPT

permissible EPT is permissible

potentially allowable EPT is potentially allowable

prohibited EPT is prohibited

This is a table caption for compliance. Ignore it please.
permissible EPT is permissible in 46 states: potentially allowable EPT is potentially allowable in 4 states: prohibited EPT is prohibited in 0 states:
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/.