Utah Code § 58-17b-620

Prescriptions issued within the public health system
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(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Department of Health and Human Services" means the Department of Health and Human
Services created in Section 26B-1-201.

(b) "Health department" means either the Department of Health and Human Services or a local
health department.
(c) "Local health departments" mean the local health departments created in Title 26A, Chapter
1, Local Health Departments.
(2) When it is necessary to treat a reportable disease or non-emergency condition that has a
direct impact on public health, a health department may implement the prescription procedure
described in Subsection (3) for a prescription drug that is not a controlled substance for use in:
(a) a clinic; or
(b) a remote or temporary off-site location, including a triage facility established in the community,
that provides:
(i) treatment for sexually transmitted infections;
(ii) fluoride treatment;
(iii) travel immunization;
(iv) preventative treatment for an individual with latent tuberculosis infection;
(v) preventative treatment for an individual at risk for an infectious disease that has a direct
impact on public health when the treatment is indicated to prevent the spread of disease or
to mitigate the seriousness of infection in the exposed individual; or
(vi) other treatment as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services by rule made
in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
(3) In a circumstance described in Subsection (2), an individual with prescriptive authority may
write a prescription for each contact, as defined in Section 26B-7-201, of a patient of the
individual with prescriptive authority without a face-to-face exam, if:
(a) the individual with prescriptive authority is treating the patient for a reportable disease or non-
emergency condition having a direct impact on public health; and
(b) the contact's condition is the same as the patient of the individual with prescriptive authority.
(4) The following prescription procedure shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements
of Subsection (5) and may be used only in the circumstances described under Subsections (2)
and (3):
(a) a physician writes and signs a prescription for a prescription drug, other than a controlled
substance, without the name and address of the patient and without the date the prescription
is provided to the patient; and
(b) the physician authorizes a registered nurse employed by the health department to complete
the prescription written under this Subsection (4) by inserting the patient's name and address,
and the date the prescription is provided to the patient, in accordance with:
(i) the physician's standing written orders; and
(ii) a written health department protocol approved by the medical director of the local health
department or the medical director of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(5) A physician assumes responsibility for all prescriptions issued under this section in the
physician's name.
(6)
(a) All prescription forms to be used by a physician and health department in accordance with
this section shall be serially numbered according to a numbering system assigned to that
health department.
(b) All prescriptions issued shall contain all information required under this chapter and rules
adopted under this chapter.
(7) Notwithstanding Sections 58-17b-302 and 58-17b-309, a nurse who is employed by a health
department and licensed under Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act, may dispense a drug to treat
a sexually transmitted infection if the drug is:

(a) a prepackaged drug as defined in Section 58-17b-802;
(b) dispensed under a prescription authorized by this section;
(c) provided at a location that is described in Subsection (2)(a) or (b) and operated by the health
department;
(d) provided in accordance with a dispensing standard that is issued by a physician who is
employed by the health department; and
(e) if applicable, in accordance with requirements established by the division in collaboration with
the board under Subsection (8).
(8) The division may make rules in collaboration with the board and in accordance with Title 63G,
Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to establish specific requirements regarding
the dispensing of a drug under Subsection (7).

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