Legal Status of EPT in Alabama

I. Statutes/regs on health care providers’ authority to prescribe for STDs to a patient’s partner(s) w/out prior evaluation

[+] Prescribing medications for a patient whom the physician has not personally examined may be suitable under certain circumstances. These circumstances may include, but not be limited to […] prescribing for the sexual partner(s) of a patient in accordance with an Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) and/or Patient Delivered Partner Therapy (PDPT) protocol for the prevention of transmission and spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Ala. Admin. Code r. 540-X-9-.11.

[+] “When a patient that is diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis or Trichomoniasis indicates that their sex partners are unlikely to seek evaluation and treatment, [Alabama Department of Public Health] registered nurses may dispense legend drugs for partners by providing the legend drugs to patients for delivery to the patient’s sexual partners.” Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-4-1-.12.

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

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

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

[+] “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

[+] 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)

[+] Patient identifying information is not required on prescription labels. Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.13.

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

EPT is permissible. Administrative regulations explicitly authorize physicians and Alabama Department of Public Health registered nurses to practice EPT.