Chapter 175

2010 -- H 7450 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 06/25/10

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Date Introduced: February 11, 2010

Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 23-11 of the General Laws entitled "Sexually Transmitted

Diseases" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

23-11-20. Expedited partner therapy. – (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law

to the contrary, a physician licensed under chapter 37 of title 5, a physician assistant licensed

under chapter 54 of title 5 or a certified registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 34 of

title 5 who is authorized to prescribe and dispense prescription drugs, and who diagnoses a

sexually transmitted chlamydia or gonorrhea infection in an individual patient, may prescribe

prescription drugs to the patient's sexual partner or partners for the treatment of the sexually

transmitted chlamydia or gonorrhea infection without an examination of the sexual partner or

partners.

(b) Neither a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant or certified registered nurse

practitioner who, in good faith, prescribes prescription drugs to a patient's sexual partner or

partners for the treatment of a sexually transmitted chlamydia or gonorrhea infection in

accordance with this section, nor the group or healthcare facility for which they work, shall be

subject to civil or criminal liability and shall not be deemed to have engaged in unprofessional

conduct.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01377/SUB A

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