Legal Status of EPT in Florida

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

[+] “A health care practitioner… may provide expedited partner therapy if the following requirements are met: 1. The patient has a laboratory-confirmed or suspected clinical diagnosis of a sexually transmissible disease; 2. The patient indicates that he or she has a partner with whom the patient has engaged in sexual activity before the diagnosis of the sexually transmissible disease; and 3. The patient indicates that his or her partner is unable or unlikely to seek clinical services in a timely manner.” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 384.27 (effective 7/1/2016)

[-] The health department or its authorized representatives may examine or cause to be examined anyone suspected of having an STD, and if found to have the disease, that person shall be treated. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 384.27.

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)

V. Prescription requirements

[+] “A pharmacist… may dispense medication to a person diagnosed with a sexually transmissible disease pursuant to a prescription for the purpose of treating that person’s partner, regardless of whether the person’s partner has been personally examined by the prescribing health care practitioner.” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 384.27

[-] The name of the patient for whom the drug was ordered must be on the label affixed to the container. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 465.186.*

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

EPT is permissible.
Statutory authority expressly authorizes physicians to provide EPT for sexually transmitted diseases, subject to various conditions as stated in the law.