Bill Text: NC S734 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Statewide Standing Order/Opioid Antagonist
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2016-06-20 - Ch. SL 2016-17 [S734 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2015-S734-Introduced.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2015
S D
SENATE BILL DRS25279-MGz-145B* (03/23)
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Short Title: Statewide Standing Order/Opioid Antagonist. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senators Pate, Tucker, and Robinson (Primary Sponsors). |
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Referred to: |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR TO prescribe opioid antagonist by means of a STATEWIDE STANDING ORDER, with immunity from civil and criminal liability for such action, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 90‑106.2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑106.2. Treatment of overdose with opioid antagonist; immunity.
(a) As used in this section, "opioid antagonist" means naloxone hydrochloride that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a drug overdose.
(b) The following individuals may prescribe an opioid antagonist in the manner prescribed by this subsection:
(1) A practitioner acting in good faith and exercising reasonable care may directly or by standing order prescribe an opioid antagonist to (i) a person at risk of experiencing an opiate‑related overdose or (ii) a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of experiencing an opiate‑related overdose. As an indicator of good faith, the practitioner, prior to prescribing an opioid under this subsection, may require receipt of a written communication that provides a factual basis for a reasonable conclusion as to either of the following:
(1)a. The person
seeking the opioid antagonist is at risk of experiencing an opiate‑related
overdose.
(2)b. The person
other than the person who is at risk of experiencing an opiate‑related
overdose, and who is seeking the opioid antagonist, is in relation to the
person at risk of experiencing an opiate‑related overdose:
a.1. A family
member, friend, or other person.
b.2. In the
position to assist a person at risk of experiencing an opiate‑related
overdose.
(2) The State Health Director may prescribe an opioid antagonist pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection by means of a statewide standing order.
(b1) A pharmacist may dispense an opioid antagonist to a person described in subsection (b) of this section pursuant to a prescription issued in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. For purposes of this section, the term "pharmacist" is as defined in G.S. 90‑85.3.
(c) A person who receives an opioid antagonist that was prescribed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may administer an opioid antagonist to another person if (i) the person has a good faith belief that the other person is experiencing a drug‑related overdose and (ii) the person exercises reasonable care in administering the drug to the other person. Evidence of the use of reasonable care in administering the drug shall include the receipt of basic instruction and information on how to administer the opioid antagonist.
(d) All of the following individuals are immune from any civil or criminal liability for actions authorized by this section:
(1) Any The State
Health Director and any practitioner who prescribes an opioid antagonist pursuant
to subsection (b) of this section.
(1a) Any pharmacist who dispenses an opioid antagonist pursuant to subsection (b1) of this section.
(2) Any person who administers an opioid antagonist pursuant to subsection (c) of this section."
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.
