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House passes bill allowing doctors to treat unnamed partners for STDs
Summary
HB17 would permit prescribers to write treatment for unnamed partners of patients with chlamydia or gonorrhea, reflecting CDC guidance and State Health Department data cited by the sponsor; the bill passed the House 63–8 and moves to the Senate.
The Utah House on Jan. 29 passed House Bill 17, which allows physicians to provide expedited partner therapy (EPT) — treatment for the sexual partners of patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea without naming those partners.
Representative Sealy, who presented the bill, said state health providers are seeing an "astronomical rise" in STDs and that the bill follows Centers for Disease Control recommendations and practices used in other states. He distributed packets of State Health Department statistics for members’ districts and said stakeholders — including medical associations and pharmacy boards — participated in drafting.
During floor questioning Representative Ben Ferry and others asked about testing and whether the approach is gender‑specific; Sealy said tests and protocols exist to identify infections in both males and females and that the bill is intended to improve public‑health outcomes while balancing medical and pharmacy operational concerns. The sponsor emphasized stakeholder engagement and that pharmacists and medical professionals had been consulted.
After summation and a voice roll call, the House approved HB17 by a vote of 63 yes and 8 no. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
Next steps reported on the floor: the bill will be sent to the Senate where its public‑health provisions will undergo further committee review.
