Cases Requiring Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis (RPEP) Treatment

(A) Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis treatment shall be provided or paid for by the board of health for any uninsured persons bitten by or intimately exposed to the saliva of an animal species known, or likely, to serve as a source of rabies exposure as determined by the Department of Public Health and if the animal: (1) was found positive for rabies by laboratory testing examination; (2) was in such condition on reaching the laboratory that it could not be tested, and was, therefore, reported as unsatisfactory; (3) was a domestic animal species for which salivary shedding period for rabies are known and which could not be restrained for a clinical observation period of ten days after the date of biting or exposure as recommended by the Department of Public Health; or (4) was killed and disposed of or is otherwise unavailable for observation or laboratory testing. (B) Notwithstanding 105 CMR 335.100(A), rabies post-exposure prophylaxis treatment shall be provided or paid for by the board of health for any uninsured persons exposed to rabies by a bat as defined by the most current guidelines from the ACIP and the Department of Public Health. (MA REG. # 1316, Dated 7-1-16) 105 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 335.100: continued (C) Under no circumstances should the process used to provide or pay for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis delay administration more than is considered medically appropriate by the Department of Public Health.