BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis, House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., and State Representative Richard Haggerty joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass legislation that will combat the opioid crisis and support residents living with substance use disorder (SUD).
An Act relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure expands non-opioid pain treatments, establishes licensing for recovery coaches, and supports pregnant women and their children who have been exposed to substances.
It will greatly expand access to opioid-reversal drugs like naloxone. In 2023, 2,125 lives were lost as a result of an overdose, 232 fewer than in 2022, according to the Department of Public Health (DPH). Since 2023, naloxone has reversed more than 10,000 overdoses in Massachusetts.
“The devastating impacts of substance use disorder cause immeasurable pain to families, friends, and neighbors in our communities, especially for those who have lost loved ones,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “This new law will help more people along their journey to recovery and save many lives.”
“This bill takes a multi-faceted approach to tackling the opioid crisis and assisting those individuals who are struggling with substance abuse issues,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. “I’m particularly happy the conference committee retained my proposal to establish a special commission to address the public health and safety concerns posed by the proliferation of xylazine as an additive to illicit drugs like fentanyl. My hope is that the special commission will come up with multiple recommendations that will actively and effectively neutralize this growing threat and protect the public.”
“The opioid crisis has touched the lives of far too many families, and its devastating impact continues to be felt in communities across our state,” said State Representative Richard Haggerty. “This bill, through its multifaceted approach, makes life-saving treatments more available and makes it easier for those struggling to get the help they need.”
Key provisions of the legislation include:
- Mandating that all health insurance plans cover opioid reversal drugs such as naloxone and Narcan—without cost-sharing or prior authorization.
- Educating patients with a history of opioid use about reversal drugs by requiring hospitals and substance use treatment facilities to teach patients about opioid reversal drugs and to prescribe or dispense at least two doses to at-risk patients upon discharge.
- Requiring pharmacies to maintain a sufficient supply of opioid reversal drugs in areas with high incidences of overdoses.
- Establishing recovery coach licensure under the DPH and requiring health insurance plans to cover recovery coach services.
- Expanding access to non-opioid pain treatments by incorporating non-opioid alternatives into provider training and updating insurance provider requirements to ensure inclusion of non-opioid treatments.
- Boosting anti-discrimination protections for people with SUD by clarifying DPH’s authority to enforce anti-discrimination protections and prohibiting discrimination against those lawfully possessing or taking medication for opioid-related SUD treatment.
- Promoting the recovery of pregnant women on medications for substance use disorder by clarifying that encountering a substance-exposed newborn does not trigger an automatic referral to the Department of Children and Families, and directing the department to lead the creation of regulations related to care, treatment, and reporting of substance-exposed newborns.
- Protecting public health and harm reduction organizations from professional disciplinary action or civil or criminal liability if they are providing drug checking services in good faith, and shielding individuals from criminal liability when seeking treatment from such organizations to help detect and protect against deadly contaminants that are increasingly found in the drug supply.
- Prohibiting life insurance companies from limiting or refusing coverage to a person solely because they obtained an opioid-reversal drug, and restricting medical malpractice insurers from discriminating against health care practitioners who provide harm reduction services.
After final passage in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Governor Maura Healey signed the bill into law on December 23, 2024.
