KRS 214.430: Expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted infections.

(1) For the purposes of this section, unless the context requires otherwise:

(a) "Dispense" means to deliver a drug or device to an ultimate user or research

subject by or pursuan t to the lawful order of a practitioner, including the

packaging, labeling, or compounding necessary to prepare the substance for

that delivery;

(b) "Expedited partner therapy" means the prescribing or dispensing of antibiotic

drugs to a practitioner's dia gnosed patient's sexual partner or partners for the

same disease without examination of that diagnosed patient's partner or

partners;

(c) "Legend drug" means any drug defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act, as amended, and under which definiti on its label is required to

bear the statement, "Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without

prescription.";

(d) "Practitioner" means medical or osteopathic physicians who are licensed

under the professional licensing laws of Kentucky to prescribe an d administer

drugs and devices. "Practitioner" includes advanced practice registered nurses

as authorized in KRS 314.011 and 314.042 and physician assistants when

administering or prescribing pharmaceutical agents as authorized in KRS

311.858; and

(e) "Prescription" means a written or oral order for a drug or medicine, or

combination or mixture of drugs or medicines, or proprietary preparation, that

is signed, given, or authorized by a practitioner, and intended for use in the

diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a practitioner who is licensed to

diagnose and prescribe drugs for sexually transmitted infections, including but not

limited to trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, or chl amydia infection, who diagnoses a

sexually transmitted infection in a patient may provide expedited partner therapy

for a sexually transmitted infection to that patient's sexual partner or partners.

(3) A practitioner that provides expedited partner therapy shall:

(a) Adhere to prescribing and dispensing standards for expedited partner therapy

pursuant to the current United States Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines for expedited

partner therapy; and

(b) Utilize forms established by the Department for Public Health for patients and

their sexual partner or partners explaining expedited partner therapy.

(4) A practitioner who reasonably and in good faith renders expedited partner therapy

in accordance with this section and administrative regulations promulgated by the

board having professional jurisdiction shall not be subject to civil or criminal

liability or be deemed to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.