The law expands patient access to the overdose reversal drug Narcan, requires all prescribers in the state to convert to secure electronic prescriptions for addictive medications by 2020 and creates a credentialing process for substance abuse recovery coaches, among other initiatives.
This is the second major opioid-related bill Mr. Baker signed since 2015. In 2017, about 2,016 people died from opioid-related overdoses.
“This legislation has been used as a blueprint for fighting the epidemic in states,” Mr. Baker said during a signing ceremony Aug. 14, according to The Herald News. “It’s truly a team effort, and there’s a lot more to be done.”
More articles on opioids:
Oregon Medicaid proposal would cut all opioids for chronic pain patients
Johns Hopkins creates opioid guidelines for 20 common surgeries
Dr. Toby Cosgrove: Opioid epidemic has ‘peaked’
