Committee passes co-prescribing bill for Naloxone, opioids
A U.S. Senate bill that provides money to help save lives in prescription drug overdoses was passed by committee Thursday.
The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed the bipartisan co-prescribing Saves Lives Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
If passed, the act would encourage physicians to co-prescribe the life-saving drug Naloxone alongside opioid prescriptions and make Naloxone more widely available in federal health settings.
Naloxone blocks or reverses the effects of opioid medication, and is used to treat a narcotic overdose in an emergency situation.
The bill can now head to the Senate floor for a vote.
“We must act swiftly in order to save lives and stem the growing drug epidemic in America,” said Capito. “The Co-prescribing Saves Lives Act is an important step toward preventing overdose deaths, and I am pleased this important legislation will advance to the Senate floor for a vote. I will continue working with Senator Kaine and my colleagues in the Senate to fight the devastating drug crisis.”
“I’m very pleased that Chairman Alexander and ranking member Murray have helped take this common sense and practical bill one step closer to final Senate passage,” Kaine said. “Senator Capito and I have seen first-hand in Va. and W.Va. how significant of a challenge the opioid abuse epidemic is for communities. Our hope is that this bill can move swiftly to the floor for full Senate consideration soon so we can help save lives.”
On Tuesday, Capito will travel to southern West Virginia where she will join Bluefield Mayor Tom Cole and the Bluefield Rescue Squad to learn first-hand how to administer Naloxone.
The act would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish physician co-prescribing best practices for federal health settings, including VA hospitals, Department of Defense hospitals, Indian health service facilities and federally-qualified health centers.
Nationwide, heroin and opioids account for approximately 25,000 American deaths per year. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, reversed more than 26,000 overdose cases between 1996 and 2014.
