Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT)

EPT — A Strategy to Treat Sex Partners for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) for chlamydia was signed into law in New York State in January 2009; regulations to accompany the law were adopted in October 2010. EPT allows health care providers to provide patients being treated for chlamydia with medication or a prescription to deliver to their sex partner(s) without a prior medical evaluation of those partners.

As of January 1, 2020, EPT in New York State was expanded to be permissible for “STIs for which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the use of expedited therapy.” The CDC notes EPT as a partner management option for gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, and therefore, New York State Department of Health has determined EPT to be permissible for these infections. Regulations and provider guidelines are forthcoming.

Electronic Prescribing Mandate Waived for Expedited Partner Therapy

The New York State Department of Health lists expedited partner therapy as an exception to the electronic prescribing mandate. As such, providers can continue to use paper prescriptions for the treatment of sex partner(s) of patients diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. Providers can order paper prescriptions from the New York State Department of Health.

Provider and Pharmacist Guidance and Education

• New York State Department of Health Position Statement on EPT (PDF)
• EPT Frequently Asked Questions for Health Care Providers and Pharmacists
• Guidelines for Health Care Providers in NYS: EPT for Chlamydia trachomatis (PDF)
• Exceptions to the Electronic Prescribing Mandate (PDF)
• EPT for Chlamydia: Brochure for Health Care Providers and Pharmacists (PDF)
• Reporting Disease and Conditions
• EPT: A Summary for Health Care Providers (PDF)

Health Education Materials

Key References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Expedited Partner Therapy
• Schillinger JA, et al. The expedited partner therapy continuum: a conceptual framework to guide programmatic efforts to increase partner treatment. Sex Trans Dis 2016; S63-S75
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Expedited partner therapy in the management of sexually transmitted diseases. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, 2006 (PDF)
• Schillinger JA, et al. Patient-delivered partner treatment with azithromycin to prevent repeated chlamydia trachomatis infection among women: A randomized, controlled trial. Sex Trans Dis 2003; 30:49-56 (PDF)
• Golden MR, et al. Effect of expedited treatment of sex partners on recurrent or persistent gonorrhea or chlamydial infection. N Engl J Med 2005; 352:676-85 (PDF)
• Kissinger P, et al. Patient-delivered partner treatment for male urethritis: a randomized, controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis 2005; 41(5):630-3 (PDF)
• Slutsker JS, et al. Do prescriptions for expedited partner therapy for chlamydia get filled? Findings from a multi-jurisdictional evaluation, United States, 2017-2019. Sex Trans Dis 2020; 47(6):376-82
• Nemeth SV, et al. Overcoming the Challenges of Studying Expedited Partner Therapy in the Real World. Sex Trans Dis 2019;46(10):693-6
• Okah E, et al. Sentinel surveillance for expedited partner therapy prescriptions using pharmacy data, in 2 New York City neighborhoods, 2015. Sex Trans Dis 2017 ;44(2):104-8
• Reid A, et al. Pharmacists' knowledge and practices surrounding expedited partner therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis, New York City, 2012 and 2014. Sex Trans Dis 2016;43(11):679-84
• Oliver A, et al. The impact of prescriptions on sex partner treatment using expedited partner therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis infection, New York City, 2014–2015. Sex Trans Dis 2016;43(11):673-8
• Vaidya S, et al. Predictors of index patient acceptance of expedited partner therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis infection and reasons for refusal, sexually transmitted disease clinics, New York City, 2011 to 2012. Sex Trans Dis 2014;41(11):690
• Introcaso CE, et al. Expedited partner therapy in federally qualified health centers—New York City, 2012. Sex Trans Dis 2013;40(11):881-5

Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding EPT, email ept@health.nyc.gov.

If you are a patient/partner and would like to report an adverse reaction after taking EPT, call 311.

If you are a provider and would like to report an allergic reaction related to EPT, call 311 or the provider access line at 866-NYC-DOH1 (866-692-3641).