Grant Funding to Make Overdose Reversal Drugs More Widely Available (H.R. 4586)

What is H.R. 4586?

(Updated July 29, 2017)

This bill would allow the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states for developing procedures allowing pharmacies to co-prescribe overdose reversal drugs with prescription opioids. Funds could also be used for developing or improving training materials related to the use or availability of overdose reversal drugs. The grant program would total $5 million for the 2017, 2018, and 2019 fiscal years.

Grants would be for a maximum of $500,000 and would be available for three years. States could only be awarded these grants if they have authorized standing orders for the provision of overdose reversal drugs at pharmacies. To incentivize states to do so, HHS would give preference to states that:

• Haven’t issued standing orders regarding opioid overdose reversal drugs;

• Authorize community organizations, substance abuse programs, or nonprofits to acquire, dispense, or administer opioid overdose reversal drugs;

• Authorize police, fire, or emergency medical services to acquire and administer overdose reversal drugs;

• Have a higher per capita rate of opioid overdoses than other states;

• Meet other criteria deemed appropriate by the HHS Secretary.

Argument in favor

States need federal funds to purchase opioid overdose reversal drugs and educate pharmacies, first responders, and community groups about their use. This grant program would accomplish that in a cost effective way.

Argument opposed

The proposed grant program is relatively small, totaling $5 million, and states would only receive up to $500,000 for a three-year period. States should have the ability to cover those costs without federal assistance.

Impact

States receiving grant funds, particularly pharmacies, first responders, and other groups that would acquire and use the overdose reversal drugs; and HHS.

Cost of H.R. 4586

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Bob Dold (R-IL) introduced this bill to increase the availability of overdose reversal drugs to prevent opioid addiction from ending more lives prematurely:

“Lali’s Law will bring Alex’s story to the United States Congress and amplify the life-saving benefit of Live4Lali’s hard work to pass similar legislation in Illinois. It is my hope that through this bipartisan bill, Alex’s lasting legacy will include helping countless people get a second chance at recovery and saving their families from unbearable heartbreak. Working together we can truly save lives."

This legislation was passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on a voice vote. It has the bipartisan support of seven cosponsors — including five Republicans and two Democrats.

Of Note: This legislation is named in memory of Alex Laliberte, a resident of Rep. Dold’s home state of Illinois who died in 2009 of a drug overdose while in college after struggling with an addiction to prescription drugs.

According to the World Health Organization, increased access to opioid overdose reversal drugs like Naloxone in the U.S. could prevent 20,000 deaths annually.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Bob Dold (R-IL) Press Release
• Chicago Tribune
• Daily Herald