Substance use and the Opioid Epidemic

What we’ve delivered so far

• Mandated that all health plans cover opioid overdose reversal drugs, such as naloxone, without cost-sharing or prior authorization

• Required substance use disorder treatment facilities to educate on and dispense at least two doses of opioid overdose reversal drugs to an individual upon discharge

• Established recovery coach licensing and oversight within Department of Public Health, and mandates that all health plans cover recovery coach services without cost-sharing or prior authorization

• Hosted a conference to bring public health and public safety leaders from Portugal to meet with Massachusetts public health and public safety leaders to learn from the Portuguese policies on Safe Consumption Sites and decriminalizing opioids

• Secured over $1M for first-responder and bystander naloxone distribution programs which help ensure life-saving access to opioid overdose reversal drugs and over $600K for municipalities to participate in bulk-purchasing of naloxone.