Bill > H1156

This bill aims to improve access to opioid use disorder treatment and rehabilitation in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1. Requiring the state Group Insurance Commission to provide coverage for opioid antagonists (e.g., naloxone) and opioid agonist treatment (including partial agonist treatment) without any deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or prior authorization. 2. Requiring non-profit substance use disorder treatment facilities to prescribe and dispense at least 2 doses of an opioid antagonist to patients upon discharge. 3. Requiring acute care hospitals and satellite emergency facilities to prescribe or dispense at least 2 doses of an opioid antagonist to patients with a history of or active opioid use, opioid use disorder, or opioid-related overdose upon discharge. 4. Authorizing the Department of Public Health to provide opioid antagonists at no cost to non-profit substance use disorder treatment facilities for distribution to patients. 5. Requiring Medicaid and private insurers to provide coverage for opioid antagonists and opioid agonist treatment without any deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or prior authorization, and to reimburse providers who dispense these treatments directly to patients. The overall goal is to improve access to critical opioid overdose reversal and opioid use disorder treatment medications and services to address the ongoing opioid epidemic in Massachusetts.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1156