Legal Status of EPT in Tennessee

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

[+] EPT by physicians authorized for chlamydia only. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1050-2-.13(9)(d), 0880-2-.14(9)

[+] For the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis, physicians may provide “an effective and safe treatment to the partners of patients infected with C. trachomatis, who for various reasons may not otherwise receive appropriate treatment.” As such, physicians may “provide to the treated patient non-named signed prescriptions, or dispense to the patient, the appropriate quantity and strength of azithromycin sufficient to provide curative treatment for the total number of unnamed ‘partners’ as defined in subparagraph (b) and indicated by the patient.” Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0880-2-.14(9)(a)-(d)

[-] Nurses practicing at primary health centers shall not issue drugs for treatment of STDs without prior examination by physician. Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-7-124(c) (for all other STDs).

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

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

EPT is permissible. Statutory authority allows EPT for the treatment of Chlamydia and is supported by medical board rules recognizing the need to treat the sexual partners of patients.