Bill Text: CT HB05053 | 2016 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Opioids And Access To Overdose Reversal Drugs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2016-05-27 - Signed by the Governor [HB05053 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2016-HB05053-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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February Session, 2016 |
*_____HB05053PH____022416____* |
AN ACT INCREASING ACCESS TO OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUGS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 17a-714a of the 2016 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) For purposes of this section, "opioid antagonist" means naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting and equally safe drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of drug overdose.
(b) A licensed health care professional who is permitted by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist may prescribe [,] or dispense [or administer] an opioid antagonist to any individual to treat or prevent a drug overdose without being liable for damages in a civil action or subject to criminal prosecution for prescribing [,] or dispensing [or administering] such opioid antagonist or for any subsequent use of such opioid antagonist. A licensed health care professional who prescribes [,] or dispenses [or administers] an opioid antagonist in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall be deemed not to have violated the standard of care for such licensed health care professional.
(c) A licensed health care professional may administer an opioid antagonist to any person to treat or prevent an opioid-related drug overdose. Such licensed health care professional who administers an opioid antagonist in accordance with the provisions of this subsection shall not be liable for damages in a civil action or subject to criminal prosecution for administration of such opioid antagonist and shall not be deemed to have violated the standard of care for such licensed health care professional.
[(c)] (d) Any person, who in good faith believes that another person is experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose may, if acting with reasonable care, administer an opioid antagonist to such other person. Any person, other than a licensed health care professional acting in the ordinary course of such person's employment, who administers an opioid antagonist in accordance with this subsection shall not be liable for damages in a civil action or subject to criminal prosecution with respect to the administration of such opioid antagonist.
(e) Not later than January 1, 2017, each municipality shall amend its local emergency medical services plan, as described in section 19a-181b, to ensure that the municipality's primary emergency medical services provider is equipped with an opioid antagonist and its personnel has received training, approved by the Commissioner of Public Health, in the administration of opioid antagonists.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2017) No individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11), (12) and (16) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state that provides coverage for prescription drugs and includes on its formulary naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting and equally safe drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of drug overdose shall require prior authorization for such drug.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2017) No group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11), (12) and (16) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state that provides coverage for prescription drugs and includes on its formulary naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting and equally safe drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of drug overdose shall require prior authorization for such drug.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
from passage |
17a-714a |
Sec. 2 |
January 1, 2017 |
New section |
Sec. 3 |
January 1, 2017 |
New section |
PH |
Joint Favorable Subst. |