California Health and Safety Code

§ 120582

HSC § 120582 Effective Jan 1, 2022Div. 105 · Part 3 · Ch. 1

Statute text

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, a physician and surgeon who diagnoses a sexually transmitted chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infection, as determined by the department, or recommended in the most recent federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the prevention or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, in an individual patient may prescribe, dispense, furnish, or otherwise provide, including in a standing order, prescription antibiotic drugs to that patient’s sexual partner or partners without examination of that patient’s partner or partners. This practice shall be known as expedited partner therapy (EPT). The department may adopt regulations to implement this section.

(b)Notwithstanding any other law, a nurse practitioner pursuant to Section 2836.1 of the Business and Professions Code, a certified nurse-midwife pursuant to Section 2746.51 of the Business and Professions Code, and a physician assistant pursuant to Section 3502.1 of the Business and Professions Code may include EPT in their practice by dispensing, furnishing, or otherwise providing, including through a standing order, prescription antibiotic drugs to the sexual partner or partners of a patient with a diagnosed sexually transmitted chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infection, as determined by the department, or recommended in the most recent federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the prevention or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, without examination of the patient’s sexual partner or partners.

(c)If a health care provider does not have the name of a patient’s sexual partner for a drug prescribed pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b), the prescription shall include the words “expedited partner therapy” or the letters “EPT.”

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 486, Sec. 4. (SB 306) Effective January 1, 2022.