Entire state gets one naloxone prescription
There are many steps that need to be taken to end an epidemic—including policy, medication, coverage and treatment expansion—and require physicians to take the lead in fighting for their patients. Leaders in Pennsylvania are on a mission to provide that help to both the people who are suffering in the opioid epidemics and the physicians who treat them.
A standing order for naloxone
Through a multiagency effort, Pennsylvania’s physician general Rachel Levine, MD, in October signed a statewide prescription for naloxone, making this lifesaving overdose reversal drug available to the entire population.
“As we were studying the problem and working on the distribution of naloxone,” Dr. Levine said, “we decided that I would write two standing orders.”
The first was a standing order for first responders—state police, municipal police and fire departments—to obtain naloxone. After this was accomplished, Dr. Levine and Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Gary Tennis called all the insurance companies in the state and raised money to obtain two forms of naloxone, the nasal spray and auto-injector, for the public.
“We wanted to facilitate as much as possible the public obtaining naloxone if they have a friend or family member or a loved one who is at risk of overdosing from prescription opioids or heroin,” Dr. Levine said. “Under Gov. Wolf’s leadership, I signed the standing order prescription for anyone in the public to go to a pharmacy ...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
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