Signed by Governor Josh Shapiro

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes emergency medical service providers to leave naloxone with a caregiver of an overdose patient in Pennsylvania.

Highlights:

• Defines “dose package” as an individually sealed package that contains naloxone or another comparable treatment used for the reversal of an opioid-related overdose event (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes provisional licensure for pharmacists who were licensed in another state to practice in Pennsylvania for 180 days (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes an EMS provider to distribute a dose package under the following circumstances (Sec. 3):

• A standing order by the Department of Health allows the purchase of naloxone or a dose package by the public without a prescription;

• The EMS provider determines that it is appropriate to distribute a dose package to a family member, a friend, or another individual who is in a position to assist a patient of an opioid-related overdose event;

• The EMS provider enters the date and contents of the dose package on the back of the package or another readily retrievable record; and

• The EMS provider provides only one dose package.

• Requires pharmacists to provide the following information upon request for every prescription medication that a consumer intends to purchase (Sec. 4):

• The current pharmacy retail price of the brand-name drug and any generically equivalent drug;

• The consumer’s cost-sharing amount of the brand-name drug and any generically equivalent drug;

• Information on where to apply for health coverage through the state’s official health insurance exchange; and

• A disclaimer that states that a consumer’s health care choices should be made based on the consumer’s other health care and financial circumstances in addition to the information provided.

• Specifies that a pharmacist shall not be held liable for noncompliance for failure to disclose the information in the previous paragraph due to a technological issue (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that the amendments made by Sections 2 and 3 of this Act take effect 60 days after passage, and the remainder takes effect one year after passage (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes emergency medical service providers to leave naloxone with a caregiver of an overdose patient in Pennsylvania.

Highlights:

• Defines “dose package” as an individually sealed package that contains naloxone or another comparable treatment used for the reversal of an opioid-related overdose event (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes provisional licensure for pharmacists who were licensed in another state to practice in Pennsylvania for 180 days (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes an EMS provider to distribute a dose package under the following circumstances (Sec. 3):

• A standing order by the Department of Health allows the purchase of naloxone or a dose package by the public without a prescription;

• The EMS provider determines that it is appropriate to distribute a dose package to a family member, a friend, or another individual who is in a position to assist a patient of an opioid-related overdose event;

• The EMS provider enters the date and contents of the dose package on the back of the package or another readily retrievable record; and

• The EMS provider provides only one dose package.

• Requires pharmacists to provide the following information upon request for every prescription medication that a consumer intends to purchase (Sec. 4):

• The current pharmacy retail price of the brand-name drug and any generically equivalent drug;

• The consumer’s cost-sharing amount of the brand-name drug and any generically equivalent drug;

• Information on where to apply for health coverage through the state’s official health insurance exchange; and

• A disclaimer that states that a consumer’s health care choices should be made based on the consumer’s other health care and financial circumstances in addition to the information provided.

• Specifies that a pharmacist shall not be held liable for noncompliance for failure to disclose the information in the previous paragraph due to a technological issue (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that the amendments made by Sections 2 and 3 of this Act take effect 60 days after passage, and the remainder takes effect one year after passage (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text