(BOSTON–12/19/2024) At this time the Massachusetts Legislature authorized laws to fight the opioid disaster and help residents dwelling with substance use dysfunction (SUD).
H.5143, An Act relative to therapies and protection for substance use dysfunction and restoration coach licensure, will broaden non-opioid ache therapies, set up licenses for restoration coaches, and help pregnant individuals and their kids who’ve been uncovered to substances.
It’s going to vastly broaden entry to opioid-reversal medication like naloxone. In 2023, 2,125 lives had been misplaced because of an overdose, 232 fewer than in 2022, based on the Division of Public Well being (DPH). Since 2023, naloxone has reversed greater than 10,000 overdoses in Massachusetts.
“Too many households have recognized the ache of substance use dysfunction and, tragically, the lack of a beloved one due to it,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Opioids have stolen life from dad and mom, kids, siblings, and mates. The laws authorized by the Legislature right this moment makes highly effective strides in the direction of mitigating this disaster by serving to these dealing with substance use dysfunction scale back hurt, discover remedy, and obtain restoration that lasts a lifetime. I’m grateful for the work of Senators Crighton and Velis, my colleagues within the Senate, and our companions within the Home to see this invoice by to remaining passage.”
“As households throughout Massachusetts know all too properly, the influence of opioid habit might be totally devastating for the person and for his or her family members, which is why a continued concentrate on combating substance use is a essential accountability that we’ve as elected officers,” stated Home Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I wish to thank Chairman Madaro for his tireless work on this laws, in addition to all my colleagues within the Home and our companions within the Senate, for recognizing the necessity for reforms that can assist these coping with habit on their journey to restoration.”
“This complete laws affirms our dedication to treating substance use as a matter of public well being, and I’m pleased with our continued progress in selling restoration and stopping overdose deaths,” stated Consultant Adrian C. Madaro (D-Boston), Home Chair of the Joint Committee on Psychological Well being, Substance Use and Restoration. “I’m grateful to all of the advocates, well being care professionals, individuals with lived expertise and their family members who labored tirelessly to advance these initiatives and to my colleagues for his or her contributions. I’m particularly grateful to Speaker Ron Mariano for his management and for appointing me to serve on this convention committee.”
“This laws continues the Commonwealth’s dedication to addressing the opioid disaster by decreasing stigma and offering the mandatory help for these in restoration,” stated Consultant Alice Hanlon Peisch (D-Wellesley), Assistant Majority Chief and member of the convention committee. “I wish to thank the Speaker for his dedication to these impacted by opioid habit and Chairman Madaro for his dedication to getting this invoice handed.”
“We’re happy that we may get this executed earlier than the session closed,” stated Consultant Michael J. Soter (R-Bellingham), a member of the convention committee. “This invoice was compromised in order that we will concentrate on the true problems with the substance abuse drawback that plagues our state. I wish to thank the Speaker for his work together with the Chair from the North Finish and Chair Madaro to assist our convention committee get this over the end line.”
The invoice mandates that each one well being plans cowl opioid reversal medication comparable to naloxone and Narcan—with out cost-sharing or prior authorization. It additionally requires hospitals and substance use remedy services to coach sufferers on opioid reversal medication and prescribe or dispense a minimum of two doses to at-risk sufferers upon discharge. It additionally requires pharmacies in areas with excessive incidences of overdoses to keep up a enough and constant provide of opioid reversal medication whereas requiring them to inventory each over-the-counter and prescription variations.
The invoice consists of a number of new insurance coverage provisions, together with a prohibition on life insurance coverage firms from limiting or refusing protection to an individual solely as a result of they obtained an opioid-reversal drug, and a prohibition on medical malpractice insurers from discriminating towards well being care practitioners who present hurt discount companies. It additional updates necessities for insurance coverage suppliers to make sure enough protection and entry to ache administration companies together with non-opioid therapies and expands entry to non-opioid ache remedy by incorporating non-opioid options into supplier coaching.
No individual ought to face discrimination due to substance use dysfunction or receiving medicine for it up to now. This laws due to this fact clarifies DPH’s authority to implement anti-discrimination protections for individuals with SUD who’re lined by public medical insurance and prohibits discrimination towards these lawfully possessing or taking medicine for opioid-related SUD remedy.
Additional, the invoice protects public well being and hurt discount organizations and their brokers from skilled disciplinary motion or civil or prison legal responsibility if they’re offering drug checking companies in good religion. It additionally protects people from prison legal responsibility when searching for remedy from such organizations. This modification ought to assist detect and defend towards lethal contaminants which are more and more discovered within the drug provide.
As well as, the invoice promotes the restoration of pregnant individuals on medicines for substance use dysfunction by clarifying that encountering a substance-exposed new child doesn’t set off an automated referral to the Division of Youngsters and Households (DCF). It additional directs DCF to steer the creation of laws associated to care, remedy, and reporting of substance-exposed newborns.
It additionally establishes restoration coach licensing within the Commonwealth and locations oversight beneath the DPH, to make sure compliance with greatest practices. Beneath this invoice, insurance coverage firms can be required to cowl companies offered by licensed restoration coaches.
A truth sheet with extra highlights of the compromise laws is obtainable on-line.
Having handed the Legislature, the invoice now heads to the Governor’s desk for her signature.
