A first-in-the-nation program has been
launched to provide no-cost or lower-cost naloxone at pharmacies across New
York. Beginning August
9, 2017, individuals with prescription health
insurance coverage, including Medicaid and Medicare, will receive up to $40 in
co-payment assistance, resulting in reduced cost or no cost for this lifesaving
medicine. Uninsured individuals and individuals without prescription coverage
will still be able to receive naloxone at no cost through New York's
network of registered opioid overdose prevention programs.
"This first-in-the-nation
program will help put this lifesaving treatment in more hands and is one more
prong in this administration's efforts to battle heroin and opioid abuse,"
Governor Cuomo said. "This
is one more step toward a stronger, healthier New York for all."
Naloxone is a medicine used to reverse
opioid overdoses. Reducing the cost of this lifesaving medication builds on
Governor Cuomo's previous action to make naloxone available in
pharmacies without a prescription which began in January 2016. Previously, New
Yorkers could only receive naloxone with a prescription or through a registered
opioid overdose prevention program.
As of August
9, 2017, New Yorkers can find co-payment
information at pharmacy counters across the state and at: www.health.ny.gov/overdose. Individuals should provide this
information to the pharmacist when asking for naloxone in order to receive it
with no or lower out-of-pocket expense. The Naloxone Co-payment Assistance
Program is funded by New York State's Opioid Overdose Prevention Program.
Additionally, through New York's network
of registered opioid overdose prevention programs, uninsured individuals and
individuals without prescription coverage will be able to receive
naloxone at no cost. A full list of these programs is available here.
In the 2017 State Budget, Governor Cuomo
invested over $200 million to fight the heroin and opioid epidemic. This
unprecedented support is directed at prevention, treatment and recovery
programs that address chemical dependency, expand residential service
opportunities and promote public awareness and education.
Naloxone is a prescription medication
used to reverse the effects of overdoses caused by heroin, prescription pain
medication and other opioids. In 2014, state agencies began working
together to develop a statewide program to train law enforcement personnel on
how to administer naloxone. Since the trainings began, over 10,000 officers
have been trained to administer the drug and 3,091 officers have been certified
to train other officers.
Trained law enforcement officers across
New York are saving lives with the naloxone they carry. Since April of
2014, 2,036 officers have administered naloxone to over 3,100 individuals,
saving the lives of nearly 90 percent of the individuals that required
assistance.
View a fact sheet on law enforcement
naloxone training and usage, here.
New York State
Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "Naloxone is very effective at
reversing opioid overdoses. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State
has taken comprehensive actions to stem the tide of opioid abuse, from
increasing the number of treatment beds to making important health insurance
reforms to eliminate barriers to accessing substance use services. The new
copayment assistance program will make naloxone more available in communities
across New York and save lives."
New York State
Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene
González-Sánchez said, "By guaranteeing affordable
Naloxone to all New Yorkers, we will save thousands of lives and help repair
the damage done to our communities by the opioid epidemic. Saving lives is the
ultimate goal of all of our prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives,
and with this latest effort, Governor Cuomo is once again establishing New York
State as a national leader in the field of addiction care."
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M.
Cuomo
No comments:
Post a Comment