HB 2300

Abstract

State Board of Health; hospitals; emergency treatment for substance use-related emergencies; services. Requires each hospital with an emergency department that is currently regulated by the State Board of Health (the Board) to establish a protocol for treatment and discharge of individuals experiencing a substance use-related emergency, which shall include provisions for (i) appropriate screening and assessment of individuals experiencing substance use-related emergencies and (ii) recommendations for follow-up care, which may include dispensing of naloxone or other opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal, issuance of a prescription for naloxone, and information about accessing naloxone at a community pharmacy or organization that dispenses naloxone or other opioid antagonist to persons without a prescription. Such protocols may also include referrals to peer recovery specialists and community-based providers of behavioral health services or providers of pharmacotherapy for the treatment of drug or alcohol dependence or mental health diagnoses. The bill also directs the Department of Health, together with the Department of Health Professions, to convene a work group to develop recommendations for best practices for the treatment and discharging of patients in emergency departments experiencing opioid-related emergencies, including overdose, which shall include recommendations for best practices related to (a) performing substance use assessments and screenings for patients experiencing opioid-related overdose and other high-risk patients; (b) prescribing and dispensing naloxone or other opioid antagonists used for overdose reversal; (c) connecting patients treated for opioid-related emergencies, including overdose, and their families with community substance abuse resources, including existing harm reduction programs and other treatment providers; and (d) identifying barriers to and developing solutions to increase the availability and dispensing of naloxone or other opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal at hospitals and community pharmacies and by other community organizations. The bill also provides that hospitals in the Commonwealth may enter into agreements with the Department of Health for the provision to uninsured patients of naloxone or other opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal.

State Board of Health; hospitals; emergency treatment for substance use-related emergencies; services. Requires each hospital with an emergency department that is currently required by the State Board of Health (the Board) to establish a protocol for treatment of individuals experiencing a substance use-related emergency to include in such protocol the following requirements: (i) for any individual experiencing a substance use-related emergency, a substance use disorder screening or assessment shall be given and evaluated to determine whether additional treatment may be appropriate; (ii) for patients who have been treated for an opioid-related overdose, the emergency department shall provide the patient with take-home naloxone or other opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal; and (iii) for any individual experiencing a substance use-related emergency, the hospital shall provide written information on appropriate community-based providers of behavioral health services upon discharge. The bill also provides that hospitals in the Commonwealth may contract with the Department of Health or other appropriate state agencies to assist with the provision of providing naloxone to a patient who is uninsured or who qualifies for charity care. Current law requires a hospital to include appropriate assessments to identify medical interventions necessary for an individual experiencing a substance use-related emergency and allows a hospital to include a process for the recommendation of follow-up care for patients who are discharged directly from the emergency department.