Requires any chain pharmacy with twenty or more locations to register with the department of health as an opioid overdose prevention program

3 Co-sponsors

• George Amedore
• Timothy M. Kennedy
• Thomas F. O'Mara

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring any chain pharmacy with twenty or more locations to pursue or maintain a non-patient-specific prescription with an authorized health care professional to dispense an opioid antagonist to a consumer upon request, or to register with the department of health as an opioid overdose prevention program

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure access to life saving medication to reverse the effects of heroin and opioid overdoses at pharmacies across the state without a prescription.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends paragraph b of subdivision 3 of section 3309 of the public health law by adding a new subparagraph v to require any pharmacy with twenty or more locations in the state to either pursue or maintain a non-patient specific prescription with an authorized health care professional to dispense an opioid antagonist, or register with the department of health as an opioid overdose prevention program.

Section 2 establishes the effective date.

Justification

Heroin and opioid abuse is an alarming problem that affects communities small and large across New York State, and across the nation. In 2014, there were 121,000 admissions for heroin and prescription opioid abuse treatment in New York State, a 20 percent increase from 101,000 in 2009. Since 2002, deaths stemming from Heroin-related overdoses have quadrupled and continue to rise. New York State has already taken several steps to combat this epidemic which plagues our communities. However, New York has lagged behind other states when it comes to ensuring access to Naloxone, the lifesaving medication used to reverse the effects of opioids during an overdose. When administered, naloxone can temporarily block the effects of the opioid, whether illicit or prescription, allowing the individual to regain consciousness and resume normal breathing. It poses no danger to anyone who otherwise might come into contact with it. A number of other states have already taken steps to expand access to Naloxone by issuing a standing order to allow this life saving medication to be dispensed at pharmacies without a prescription. Studies have shown that friends and family members of overdose victims are often the actual first responders and are typically better able to intervene within the critical first moments of the onset of an overdose. By requiring certain pharmacies to dispense and administer Naloxone without a prescription, whether through pursuing or maintaining a non-patient specific prescription with an authorized health care professional or through registering as an opioid overdose prevention program, we can facilitate the distribution of this medication and help save lives.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.