HB 779 — HEALTH/MEDICAL TREATMENT: Provides relative to expedited partner therapy (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

HLSENROLLED 26RS-1159 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

779 BY REPRESENTATIVEREPRESENTATIVES FREEMAN HEALTH/MEDICALAND TREATMENT:CHASSION AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.40:1121.6(A),(B),and(C)(introductoryparagraph)andto enact R.S.

Provides relative to expedited partner therapy AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.40:1121.6(A),(B),and(C)(introductoryparagraph)andtoenact R.S.

gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or other sexually associated infection, as Pagedetermined 1by ofthe 3Louisiana CODING:Department of Health.

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HLS 26RS-1159 ENGROSSED HB NO.

779 determined by the Louisiana Department of Health.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, any physician or any advanced practice registered nurse who diagnoses or does a nurse clinicalassessmentoranyphysicianassistantwhoperformsanexaminationofacase of chlamydia or gonorrhea gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or other sexually associated infection, as determined by the Louisiana Department of Health in an individualpatientmayprescribe,furnish,orotherwiseprovideprescriptionantibioticPage drugs1 to that patient's sexual partner or partners absent a doctor-patient relationship or absent an advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship and without examination or nurse clinical assessment or physician assistant examination of that2 patient'sCODING: sexual partner or partners.

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HB NO.

779 ENROLLED individualpatientmayprescribe,furnish,orotherwiseprovideprescriptionantibiotic drugs to that patient's sexual partner or partners absent a doctor-patient relationship or absent an advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship and without examination or nurse clinical assessment or physician assistant examination of that patient's sexual partner or partners.

If expedited partner therapy is chosen as an alternative, the patient with a case of chlamydia or gonorrhea gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or other sexuallyassociated infection, as determined bythe Louisiana DepartmentDepartmentof of Health will be given a written document that he agrees to give to his sexual contact.

PageSPEAKER 2OF ofTHE 3HOUSE CODING:OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:

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HLS 26RS-1159 ENGROSSED HB NO.

779 DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 779 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Freeman Abstract:

Authorizes the La.

Dept.

of Health (LDH) to provide for the sexuallyassociated infections that may be treated with expedited partner therapy.

Present law provides that a healthcare professional may, when treating a person for gonorrhea or chlamydia, prescribe medication to treat the patient's sexual partners without examining the patient's sexual partners, known as expedited partner therapy.

Proposed law retains present law and adds that trichomoniasis and any other sexually associated infection determined bythe LDH maybe treatedwith expedited partnertherapy.

Proposed law adds that a healthcare professional or pharmacist acting reasonably and in good faith shall not be criminally or civilly liable for harm arising out of expedited partner therapy.

Proposed law provides that LDH shall establish a list of sexually associated infections eligible for expedited partner therapy.

(Amends R.S.

40:1121.6(A), (B), and (C)(intro.

para.);

Adds R.S.

40:1121.6(F) and (G)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed byHouse Committee on Health and Welfare to the original bill:

1.

Make technical changes.

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