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Legal Status of EPT in Oklahoma

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)

“Providers ordering appropriate medications for persons with laboratory-proven, sexually transmitted diseases” may provide medications to “persons who have been in contact with certain infectious diseases” without a face-to-face encounter.  Okla. Admin. Code § 435:10-7-12.

minus symbol Physicians prohibited from prescribing to a patient without sufficient examination or establishing physician/patient relationship. Okla. Stat. tit. 59 § 509(12)., Okla. Stat. tit. 59 § 637. See Okla. Admin. Code § 435:10-7-12 (“The physician/patient relationship shall include a medically appropriate, timely-scheduled, face-to-face encounter with the patient… except that the following providers are not subject to the face-to-face encounter: … (3) Providers ordering appropriate medications for persons with laboratory-proven, sexually diseases”)

minus symbol It is unlawful for any person not a physician to treat anyone for an STD, unless that person is under direct control of a physician. Okla. Stat. tit. 63 § 1-521.

II. Specific judicial decisions concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation)

minus symbol Physician misconduct found when physician prescribed to patients without establishing physician-patient relationship or prior examination. State v. Litchfield, 103 P.3d 111 (Okla. Civ. App. 2004). State v. Ray, 848 P.2d 46 (Okla. Civ. App. 1992).

III. Specific administrative opinions by the Attorney General or medical or pharmacy boards concerning EPT (or like practices) (Explanation)

minus symbol The Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision determined that “Unprofessional conduct includes “prescribing or administering a drug or treatment without sufficient examination and the establishment of a valid physician/ patient relationship” pursuant to Title 59 O.S. 509-12. Also, a “sufficient examination” and “establishment of a valid physician/patient relationship” can NOT take place without an initial face to face encounter with the patient. In other words, it requires at a minimum: . . .
2. Establishing a diagnosis through the use of accepted medical practices such as a patient history, mental status exam, physical examination and appropriate diagnostic and laboratory testing by the prescribing physician;
3. Discussing with the patient, the diagnosis and the evidence for it, the risks and benefits of various treatment options; and 4. Insuring availability of the physician or coverage for the patient for appropriate follow-up care.”
 

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

V. Prescription requirements (Explanation)

minus symbol Prescription label must bear name of patient. 59 Okl. St § 353.20.1.

minus symbol If the name of patient is stated in the prescription, the label must bear the patient’s name. Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 1-1409.

minus symbol “The pharmacy or pharmacist shall not dispense a prescription drug if the pharmacist knows or should have known that the prescription was issued without a valid preexisting patient-practitioner relationship.” Okla. Admin. Code § 535:15-3-13(d)

VI. Assessment of EPT’s legal status with brief comments (Explanation)

EPT is potentially allowable.

Administrative regulations authorize the practice of EPT.  Other statutory authority, case law, medical board opinions, and administrative regulations pose potential legal barriers to the practice of EPT.

Status as of December 3, 2013

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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