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§ 603. Health care practitioners

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 35 P.S. Health and SafetyEffective: February 1, 2023

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 3. Prevention of Spread of Diseases (Refs & Annos)
Expedited Partner Therapy Act
Effective: February 1, 2023
35 P.S. § 603
§ 603. Health care practitioners
Currentness
(a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, a health care practitioner may issue a prescription for or personally furnish antibiotics to treat sexually transmitted infections, without having examined the individual for whom the drug is intended, in accordance with the Expedited Partner Therapy in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guidance document issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if:
(1) The individual is a sexual partner of the health care practitioner's patient.
(2) The patient has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection.
(3) The patient reports to the health care practitioner that the individual is unable or unlikely to be evaluated or treated by a health professional.
(b) Name on prescription.--If the health care practitioner is unable to obtain the individual's name, the prescription shall include the words “expedited partner therapy” or the letters “EPT.”
(c) Prescribed drug.--For each drug prescribed, the health care practitioner shall do all of the following:
(1) Recommend to the patient that the individual seek treatment from a health professional.
(2) Document the name of the drug prescribed and its dosage in the patient's record.
(d) Furnished drug.--For each drug personally furnished, the health care practitioner shall do all of the following:
(1) Provide the patient with information concerning the drug for the purpose of sharing the information with the individual, including directions for use of the drug and any side effects, adverse reactions or known contraindications associated with the drug.
(2) Recommend to the patient that the individual seek treatment from a health professional.
(3) Document all of the following in the patient's record:
(i) The name of the drug furnished and its dosage.
(ii) That information concerning the drug was provided to the patient for the purpose of sharing the information with the individual.
(e) Contact permitted.--A health care practitioner who prescribes or personally furnishes a drug may contact the individual for whom the drug is intended.
(f) Liability for prescribing or furnishing drug.--A health care practitioner who in good faith prescribes or personally furnishes a drug is not liable for or subject to any of the following:
(1) Damages in a civil action.
(2) Prosecution in a criminal proceeding.
(3) Professional disciplinary action.
(g) Liability for not prescribing or furnishing drug.--A health care practitioner shall not be subject to civil, criminal or professional liability for choosing not to provide expedited partner therapy.

Credits

2022, Nov. 3, P.L. 2130, No. 147, § 3, effective in 90 days [Feb. 1, 2023].
35 P.S. § 603, PA ST 35 P.S. § 603
Current through 2023 Regular Session Act 7. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document