Bill > HB422

This bill expands the existing "expedited partner therapy" program in Maryland, which allows certain healthcare providers to treat the sexual partners of patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections without examining the partner directly. The purpose of this program is to control the spread of infections and prevent reinfection of the diagnosed patient. Previously, this therapy was available for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis, but this bill adds bacterial vaginosis to that list. This means that physicians, advanced practice registered nurses with prescribing authority, physician assistants, and registered nurses employed by local health departments can now prescribe or dispense antibiotics for bacterial vaginosis to a patient's sexual partner without a personal physical assessment of that partner. Pharmacists are also authorized to dispense these prescribed medications. The bill also clarifies that this expansion does not increase the general prescribing authority of advanced practice registered nurses or physician assistants and requires the Secretary to adopt regulations to implement these changes.

Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0422?ys=2026RS