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Legal Status of EPT in Maryland

permissible 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)

plus sign Certain health care providers are authorized to dispense or otherwise provide certain antibiotic therapy to partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea without making a personal physical assessment of the partner.  Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. §18-214.1. 

Maryland released rules in support of its statutory authorization of EPT, which includes eligibility criteria for EPT, requirements for patient counseling and educational materials to be provided to patients who are provided with EPT treatment, prescribing procedures and dispensing format requirements, and reporting procedures for cases of EPT. Md. Code Regs. 10.06.01.17-1

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)

minus symbol A physician who prescribes naloxone—a non-controlled substance—to a patient to give to another heroin user in the event of an overdose would be subject to criminal prosecution and disciplinary action for aiding unauthorized practice of medicine and for violating applicable laws without statutory authority to do so. 88 Op. Att’y Gen. Md. 03-009 (2003).

 

minus symbol No single State law specifies the contents of a valid prescription. However, the necessary elements of a prescription may be inferred from statutes that govern the dispensing and labeling of prescription drugs. Generally, a prescription will include the identity of the patient…. See Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 12-504 (circumstances under which pharmacist may substitute generically equivalent drug of “same dosage form and strength” for specified brand name drug); Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 21-221(a) (“if stated in the prescription,” a dispensed drug must be labeled with the name of the patient, any directions for use, and any cautionary statements); 01 Op. Att’y Gen. Md. 01-026 (2001).

minus symbol The Maryland Board of Physician Quality Assurance expressed concern about internet prescribing. It questioned the existence of a bona fide doctor/patient relationship when a person, previously unknown to the physician, provides subjective answers to questions via an online questionnaire and the physician provides prescriptions medications.

minus symbol The Maryland Board of Physicians suspended the license of a physician pursuant to a Consent Order of the North Carolina Board sanctioning the physician for authorizing prescriptions without a physical examination and without any prior physician-patient relationship.
 

IV. Laws that incorporate via reference guidelines as acceptable practices (including EPT) (Explanation)

plus sign The secretary or health officer shall take any action necessary to prevent the spread of a communicable disease and shall issue special instructions, when necessary, for the control of a disease or condition. Md. Code Regs. § 10.06.01.06.

 

plus sign Regulations incorporate by reference: APHA CCD Manual, 19th Edition, 2008, except where such recommendations conflict with health regulations. Md. Code Regs. §§ 10.06.01.01-1, 10.06.01.07, 10.06.01.07.

V. Prescription requirements (Explanation) plus sign Prescription label need not bear patient’s name. However if name is provided on prescription, label must bear the name of the patient. Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 21-220 and § 21-221.
VI. Assessment of EPT’s legal status with brief comments (Explanation)

permissible EPT is permissible.
 

Statutory authority expressly authorizes certain providers to provide EPT for chlamydia and gonorrhea.  The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene adopted regulations to implement EPT.

Status as of March 28, 2016

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

permissible EPT is permissible in 41 states: potentially allowable EPT is potentially allowable in 7 states: prohibited 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/.

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