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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio bill that seeks to expand access to treatment for certain sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
The proposal would let doctors prescribe medication to their patients' partners without first examining them. Currently, licensed providers in Ohio must first examine patients before prescribing them antibiotics.
The legislation, which passed Wednesday on a unanimous vote, 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 has been 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.
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