Bill > HB1267

This bill establishes the Poly-Morphone-Assisted Treatment Pilot Program, which involves administering or dispensing pharmaceutical-grade heroin (diacetylmorphine or its equivalent), hydromorphone, or other opiates by a licensed healthcare practitioner to individuals diagnosed with opioid dependence, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The program is set to begin by January 1, 2018, and will run for four years, aiming to provide an alternative treatment for opioid-dependent individuals who do not benefit from or cannot tolerate standard opioid replacement therapies like methadone or buprenorphine, and to evaluate its effectiveness compared to conventional methods. A Poly-Morphone-Assisted Treatment Pilot Program Advisory Board will be created, composed of the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene or their designee, along with appointed members including physicians, nurses, social workers, addiction counselors, law enforcement representatives, and public health experts, to review proposals from healthcare facilities seeking to participate and approve those that can meet program requirements. Participating healthcare facilities will be responsible for research, adopting guidelines, and implementing protocols for patient selection, screening, assessment, treatment, and obtaining the necessary pharmaceutical-grade opiates, as well as conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the program's outcomes, including treatment retention, health risks, illicit drug use, costs, and societal impacts. The bill also provides legal protections for program providers and recipients, ensuring that the provision or receipt of this treatment will not be grounds for seizure, forfeiture, or criminal, civil, or administrative penalties, and allows for the collection of fees and reimbursement from health insurance carriers. The program will be funded through state appropriations, fees, grants, and other public or private sources, and participating facilities must submit annual reports on the program's status and effectiveness, with a final report due in November 2021 that will inform decisions about potentially transitioning the program into a permanent one and offering compassionate access to treatment after the pilot concludes.