Legal Status of EPT in Michigan

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

[+] “…a health professional may provide expedited partner therapy if all of the following requirements are met: (a) The patient has a laboratory-confirmed or suspected clinical diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection. (b) The patient indicates that he or she has a partner with whom the patient has engaged in sexual activity within the 60-day period immediately before the diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection. (c) The patient indicates that his or her partner is unable or is unlikely to seek clinical services in a timely manner.” Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.5110.

[+] “Except as otherwise authorized for expedited partner therapy in section 5110 or as provided in section 17744a or 17744b, a dispensing prescriber shall dispense prescription drugs only to his or her own patients.” Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.17745.

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

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

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

V. Prescription requirements (Explanation)

[+] “Prescriber shall dispense a drug in a container that bears a label containing… (b) Except as otherwise authorized under section 5110, 17744a, or 17744b, the patient’s name and record number” Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.17745(7). (Section 5110 authorizes EPT subject to various requirements)

[+] Pharmacist must provide purchaser of prescription drug a receipt which includes, “except as otherwise authorized under section 5110, 17744a, or 17744b, the name of the patient for whom the drug was prescribed.” Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.17757. (Section 5110 authorizes EPT subject to various requirements)
[+] Pharmacist may not dispense prescription drugs, “except as otherwise authorized under section 5110, 17744a, or 17744b,” unless s/he determines that the prescription is pursuant to an existing physician/patient relationship. Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.17751. (Section 5110 authorizes EPT subject to various requirements)

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

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