Title: Section 23.2 - Treatment facilities

23.2 Facilities. Each health district shall provide adequate facilities either directly or through contract for the diagnosis and treatment, including prevention services, of persons living within its jurisdiction who are infected or at risk of being infected with an STD as specified in section 23.1 of this Part.

(a) Such persons shall be examined and shall have appropriate laboratory specimens taken and laboratory tests performed for those diseases designated in this Part as STDs for which such person exhibits symptoms or is otherwise suspected of being infected.

(b) The examinations and laboratory tests shall be conducted in accordance with accepted medical procedures as described in the most recent evidence-based STD guidelines distributed by the New York State Department of Health.

(c) Any persons diagnosed as having any of the STDs in Group A in section 23.1 of this Part shall be treated directly in the facility with appropriate medication in accordance with accepted medical procedures as described in the most recent evidence-based STD guidelines distributed by the department.

(d) Any persons diagnosed as having any of the STDs in Group B in section 23.1 of this Part must be provided treatment either directly in the facility referred to in this section or through a written or electronic prescription or referral.

(e) Any person diagnosed as having the STD in Group C in section 23.1 of this Part may be managed by immediate referral or if outpatient treatment is appropriate as indicated by evidence-based STD guidelines, the person may be treated directly in the facility.

(f) Any person diagnosed as having any of the STDs in Group D in section 23.1 of this Part may be provided treatment directly within the facility referred to in this section or through a written or electronic prescription.

(g) Health districts shall seek third party reimbursement for these services to the greatest extent practicable; provided, however, that no board of health, local health officer, or other municipal health officer shall request or require that such coverage or indemnification be utilized as a condition of providing diagnosis or treatment services. Health care providers that are permitted by the patient to utilize such coverage or indemnification may disclose information to third party reimbursers or their agents to the extent necessary to reimburse health care providers for health services.