Ohio bill would allow patients to get STD meds for partners

Published December 20, 2015

A bill in Ohio seeks to expand access to treatment for certain sexually transmitted diseases by allowing doctors to prescribe medication to their patients' partners without first examining them.

Licensed providers in Ohio must first examine patients before prescribing them antibiotics. But legislation recently passed by the House would create a limited exception for partners of patients who have been diagnosed with chlamydia, trichomoniasis or gonorrhea in an effort to reduce cases of the infections.

Ohio's rate of reported gonorrhea and chlamydia cases is higher than the national average, with most cases occurring among those ages 15 to 24.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio is one of four states that prohibit such expedited partner therapy. Others are Florida, West Virginia and Kentucky.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ohio-bill-would-allow-patients-to-get-std-meds-for-partners