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The Office of Infectious Disease, Drug User Health Team wants to remind you ...

Naloxone is an opioid-overdose reversal medication. In Washington State, there is a standing order for naloxone that allows anyone to purchase naloxone  directly from a pharmacy. The standing order includes generic naloxone (both intranasal and injectable naloxone formulations) and Narcan® Nasal Spray (a brand name intranasal formulation of naloxone).

Anyone can obtain naloxone if they are at risk for having or witnessing an overdose.

• Patients who ask for naloxone do not need to be screened for opioid use or overdose risks.
• There are no age limits on who can receive naloxone. In Washington State, youth 13 years and older can consent to treatment related to substance use disorder. For youth younger than 12 years, they should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The standing order allows for multiple kits of naloxone to be distributed to a patient during one transaction.  Insurance coverage for naloxone varies, and some insurers may not cover more than one kit at a time. However, patients may pay cash for kits if they desire.

Patient education requirements and resources

• Pharmacists “must provide written instructions on the proper response to an opioid-related overdose, including instructions for seeking immediate medical attention” to patients who receive naloxone. These materials are sufficient to meet this requirement:
  • Washington State Department of Health, Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution
  • Stopoverdose.org, from the University of Washington. If you’d like to order hard copies of this brochure, please contact the ADAI Clearinghouse.

 Cost assistance

• You may bill insurance for naloxone, though some insurers may not cover more than one kit at a time.
• For patients with Medicaid, there is no copay for naloxone and no limit on the number of kits someone can obtain in a year.
• The ArrayRx Discount Card is available to residents of Nevada, Oregon, and Washington State, and can be used to provide discounts on prescription drugs for people who do not have insurance or who need copay assistance.

 Other sources for patients’ naloxone

• If a patient wants a naloxone kit but decides not to obtain one at a pharmacy, they can find a community location for naloxone here. Many of these locations offer naloxone at no charge.

 Questions?

• Answers to some frequently asked questions are available here.
• Information about legal and regulatory issues related to naloxone in Washington, including immunity from liability for assisting in an overdose and the Office of Insurance Commissioner’s memo clarifying that coverage and underwriting decisions cannot be based on whether someone has a prescription for naloxone, can be found here.
• Contact the Washington State Department of Health’s Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program at naloxoneprogram@doh.wa.gov.

SAFETY.

QUALITY.

INNOVATION.