Commonwealth of Massachusetts

	Executive Office of Health and Human Services			
	Department of Public Health			
	Division of Health Professions Licensure			
	Board of Registration in Pharmacy			
				
CHARLES D. BAKER	239 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114	MARYLOU SUDDERS		
Governor		Secretary		
KARYN E. POLITO	Tel:  617-973-0960	MONICA BHAREL, MD, MPH		
	Fax : 617-973-0980			
Lieutenant Governor		Commissioner		
	TTY : 617-973-0988			
	www.mass.gov/dph/boards/pharmacy			

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy

Policy No. 2015-03: Guidance for Filling Expedited Partner Therapy Prescriptions

I.	Purpose 

Policy No. 2015-03 sets forth guidance for pharmacies dispensing Expedited Partner Therapy Prescriptions (“EPT”). EPT is the practice of treating the sex partners of people diagnosed with Chlamydia infection without examining or testing the partner. Patients diagnosed with Chlamydia infection are at an increased risk of re-infection after treatment if their partner is not treated as well. EPT helps interrupt the spread of the disease by providing treatment to those partners who may be unwilling or unable to seek medical care on their own. M.G.L. c. 111 §121B authorizes certain healthcare providers to prescribe or dispense EPT in Massachusetts. This authorization applies only to Chlamydia infection.

II.	Regulatory Guidelines for Expedited Partner Therapy Prescriptions 

EPT prescriptions are regulated under 105 CMR 700.003(J) and 105 CMR 721.020. 105 CMR 721.020(e)(4) provides an exception to standard prescription requirements and states, “…the words “Expedited Partner Therapy”, “E.P.T.” or “EPT” may be used in place of the name of the patient, and the address may be left blank…”

III.  Guidelines for Filling Expedited Partner Therapy Prescriptions

Healthcare providers may prescribe EPT in two ways:
1.	The prescriber provides a prescription for named sex partner(s) of the infected patient; or 
2.	The prescriber provides a written prescription using “Expedited Partner Therapy,” “E.P.T.” or “EPT” in place of the patient’s name and address. 

Patient Profile

Pharmacies receiving EPT prescriptions without a patient’s name and address can fill the prescription in accordance with 105 CMR 721.000. Pharmacists should create a patient profile by using “Expedited Partner Therapy,” “E.P.T.” or “EPT” in place of the patient’s name and address.

Offer to Counsel and Drug Utilization Review

Pharmacists or their designee shall offer counseling to all persons presenting new prescriptions. Pharmacists filling EPT prescriptions are required to offer counseling to patient or to the patient’s agent (the person picking up the prescription) in accordance with M.G.L. c. 94C, § 21A and 247 CMR 9.07(3). Similarly, pharmacists shall conduct a Drug Utilization Review based upon the information available to the pharmacist. A partner information sheet should be provided to patients by the pharmacist whenever possible.

IV.  Referral Requirement

If a pharmacy is unable or unwilling to fill an EPT prescription, the pharmacy must refer the patient to an alternate pharmacy that is able to promptly fill the EPT prescription.