Press Releases
02/24/2016
Gov. Malloy & Lt. Gov. Wyman Applaud Committee Passage of Opioids Legislation
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman are applauding a unanimous 22-0 vote that was taken in the Public Health Committee this morning to approve legislation the Governor introduced that expands on the state's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.
The legislation, House Bill 5053 - An Act Increasing Access to Overdose Reversal Drugs, requires that municipalities update their existing emergency medical services plan to ensure that the primary emergency response provider on the scene of an emergency call is equipped with and prepared to administer the overdose reversing drug naloxone and has been appropriately trained to do so. It also prohibits commercial health carriers from requiring prior authorization for coverage of naloxone.
At the request of the Governor, the Public Health committee today added additional language into the bill that closes a gap in current liability language related to a licensed health professional who administers an opioid antagonist.
"This is a nationwide problem for which we are not immune in Connecticut. Indeed, spikes are alarming, and these updates are commonsense steps that will save lives. We're continuing to build upon the laws passed in previous sessions," Governor Malloy said. "I want to thank Public Health Committee co-chairs Senator Gerratana and Representative Ritter for taking a swift vote to approve this legislation, in addition to the bipartisanship shown within the committee to unanimously pass this bill. This is a critical public health issue, and I urge the full General Assembly to adopt these commonsense next steps so I can sign it into law."
"This legislation ensures that first responders have the tools they need to save lives - paramount to combatting the ballooning use of opioids. It is part of a bigger strategy to address addiction and recovery so our residents can live healthier, more productive lives," Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. "I applaud the Public Health Committee for their work, and for their commitment to a healthier state."
Since 2011, Governor Malloy introduced and signed into law several new measures that position Connecticut as a leader in the fight to prevent substance abuse and opioid overdose. Those include:
- The 2011 adoption of Good Samaritan laws protecting individuals from prosecution for minor drug crimes who seek medical attention for a friend experiencing an overdose (Public Act 11-210)
- The 2012 adoption of third party prescriber laws allowing the prescription of naloxone to an individual who is not the direct user of the drug (Public Act 12-159)
- The 2014 expansion of Good Samaritan protections for any person who, in good faith, administers naloxone to save a life. Previously, only licensed health care practitioners were allowed to administer the medication without being civilly or criminally liable for the action. Following the law's adoption, all Connecticut State Police Troopers completed a training program providing them with the skills to administer the medication. To date, State Troopers have saved 63 lives by utilizing this law. (Public Act 14-61)
- The 2015 legislation that expanded prescriber education, made use of the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) mandatory for all prescribers of controlled substances, expanded the scope of practice for pharmacists to allow them to directly prescribe naloxone and reconstituted the Alcohol and Drug Policy Council (ADPC) as a statewide coordinating body to fight the spread of substance abuse and overdose (Public Act 15-198)
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