Legal Status of EPT in Alabama
ShareCompartir
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) |
|
|---|---|
| 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) | |
| IV. 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. Admin Code r. 420-4-1-.05. |
| V. Prescription requirements (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. Ala. Code § 34-23-11(b)
|
| VI. Assessment of EPT’s legal status with brief comments (Explanation) |
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, and the express authority of Alabama Department of Public Health registered nurses to practice EPT, EPT is potentially allowable. |
| Status as of June 26, 2014 | |
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.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 41 states: |
EPT is potentially allowable in 7 states: |
EPT is prohibited in 2 states: |
|---|---|---|
|
Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming EPT is permissible in the District of Columbia. |
Alabama Delaware Kansas New Jersey Oklahoma South Dakota Virginia EPT is potentially allowable in Puerto Rico. |
Kentucky South Carolina |
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/.
- Page last reviewed: December 19, 2016
- Page last updated: December 22, 2016
- Content source: