EXPEDITED PARTNER THERAPY                                                              H.B. 4736 (S-2):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4736 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Sponsor:  Representative George Darany

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:

-- Authorize a health professional, under specific circumstances, to provide expedited partner therapy (EPT); that is, to dispense or prescribe a drug or treatment for the partner of a patient diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) without directly examining the partner.

-- Require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to maintain a list of STIs for which EPT was appropriate.

-- Require a health professional to dispense or prescribe therapy in the name of "expedited partner therapy" if the partner's name were unknown.

-- Require the DCH to develop and distribute an information sheet that included information regarding EPT, antibiotic treatment for STIs, and other information.

-- Provide that a health professional would not be liable for damages in a civil action or subject to administrative action in connection with the provision of EPT, unless his or her action was grossly negligent.

-- Provide exceptions to certain requirements regarding documentation of a patient's personal information related to prescription drugs in the case of EPT.

The bill would take effect on January 1, 2015.

MCL 324.17745 et al.                                                     Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a net positive fiscal impact on State and local government by decreasing costs related to the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. By allowing expedited partner therapy, the bill would lead to a decrease in control program costs related to reinfection and untreated sexually transmitted disease. The same cost decreases also would be reflected in health care costs for governmental employees. This positive impact would outweigh the minor negative fiscal impact on the State of creating informational materials and the optional promulgation of rules related to EPT. The DCH estimates a cost of less than $5,000 for the creation of informational material, all of which could be covered through existing Federal grant funding.

For FY 2013-14, the DCH budget includes funding of $6.2 million Gross ($795,600 GF/GP) for the sexually transmitted disease control program.

Date Completed:  9-26-14                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Ellyn Ackerman

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.