Bill > S1551

This bill establishes a Naloxone Purchase Trust Fund to support a universal system for distributing opioid antagonists (specifically naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses) throughout the Commonwealth. The bill defines key terms such as "opioid antagonist" as a drug approved by the FDA to reverse opioid overdoses, and specifies that these antagonists will be distributed to healthcare facilities like hospitals, emergency departments, substance use disorder treatment facilities, and community health centers. The trust fund will be financed through transfers from the executive office of health and human services, voluntary contributions from third-party payers, and interest earnings. The fund will be maintained by the department commissioner and can be used exclusively for purchasing, storing, and distributing opioid antagonists, with a limitation that administrative costs cannot exceed 10% of the total fund expenditure. Any unspent balance at the end of a fiscal year will remain in the fund for future use, and the commissioner must provide an annual report on fund collections and expenditures to various legislative committees. The department is also authorized to create rules and regulations necessary to implement this universal purchase and distribution system.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1551