Bill > SB137

This bill requires hospitals to provide overdose reversal drugs, such as naloxone, to patients being discharged from the emergency department if they showed symptoms of an opioid overdose, opioid use disorder, or other adverse effects from opioid use. This requirement has exceptions, including if a doctor deems it inappropriate, the patient already has the drug, the hospital has no supply, or the patient refuses it. When providing the drug, hospitals must also offer information on how to use it, medications for opioid use disorder, harm reduction strategies, and available treatment services. Hospitals can seek reimbursement for the cost of these drugs from health benefit plans or Medicaid, provided the drug was purchased by the hospital and is covered by the plan or program. The bill also mandates that hospitals record and report instances where these drugs are provided to the Department of Health and the Department of Behavioral Health, without identifying individuals, and the Department of Behavioral Health will be responsible for providing these drugs to hospitals, subject to available funding. Importantly, hospitals and their staff are protected from liability for actions taken in good faith to fulfill these duties.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb137