Legal Status of EPT

Legal Status of EPT - Alabama

EPT is potentially allowable.

I. Statutes/regs on health care providers’ authority to prescribe for STDs to a patient’s partner(s) w/out prior evaluation (Explanation)	Generally, providing a prescription to patient without examination is considered misconduct. EPT is not listed among exceptions. Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-9-.11. Nurses and physician assistants may not prescribe for non-patients of supervising physician. Ala. Admin. Code rr. 610-X-5-.11, .22.
II. Specific judicial decisions concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation)
III. Specific administrative opinions by the Attorney General or medical or pharmacy boards concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation)	A registered nurse in the employment of the State Health Department or a county health department may, in the provision of health care services, dispense legend drugs as provided in this section under the standing orders or direct supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state and pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Pharmacy and implemented by a pharmacist licensed to practice pharmacy in this state. The nurse may dispense the legend drugs for the treatment of . . . sexually transmitted diseases, . . . if approved by the State Board of Pharmacy.
IV. Legislative bills or prospective regulations concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation)
V. Laws that incorporate via reference guidelines as acceptable practices (including EPT) (Explanation)	“The State Committee of Public Health designates that the treatment of STDs shall be those accepted by the State Health Officer and consistent with recognized medical and epidemiologic information.” Ala. Code § 420-4-1-.05.
VI. Prescription requirements (Explanation)	Patient identifying information is not required on prescription labels. Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.13.
VII. Assessment of EPT’s legal status with brief comments (Explanation)	EPT is potentially allowable. Under general circumstances, a physician must conduct a physical exam prior to prescribing a medication. The administrative opinion provides that under some circumstances, a physician may delegate the authority to dispense drugs to a nurse (and perhaps others as well, such as the patient). When coupled with authority of the State Comm. of Public Health to recommend EPT as consistent with recognized medical and epidemiological evidence, EPT is potentially allowable.
Status as of August 16, 2006

Legend:
supports the use of EPT	EPT is permissible
negatively affects the use of EPT	EPT is potentially allowable
	EPT is prohibited

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Alabama
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West Virginia
Wisconsin
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Summary Totals

Exception: EPT is permissible in Baltimore, Maryland.

Page last modified: December 13, 2007
Page last reviewed: December 13, 2007
Content Source: Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention