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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act Providing for the Prescribing and Administering of Naloxone’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1.  22 MRSA c. 556-A  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 556-A
NALOXONE PRESCRIPTION, POSSESSION AND ADMINISTRATION
§ 2355. Naloxone prescription, possession and administration
 
1.  Prescription.     A health care professional may prescribe and dispense naloxone to a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose. A health care professional may prescribe and dispense naloxone to a person who, in the judgment of the health care professional, is capable of administering the drug in an emergency and may be in a position to assist an individual during an opioid-related overdose.
 
A.  As used in this section, "health care professional" means a health care professional licensed under Title 32 with authority to prescribe naloxone.
 
B.  A health care professional prescribing naloxone to a person shall provide to the person opioid overdose information that must include, but is not limited to, information on:
 
(1) The causes of an opioid overdose;
 
(2) How to recognize the symptoms of an opioid overdose;
 
(3) How to contact the appropriate emergency medical services; and
 
(4) How to administer naloxone.
 
C.  A prescription issued under this subsection is deemed to be for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice.
 
2.  Possession and administration.    A person who has received opioid overdose information identified in subsection 1 may receive a prescription for naloxone pursuant to subsection 1, possess naloxone and administer naloxone to an individual who the person believes in good faith is experiencing an opioid-related overdose.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment is the majority report of the committee and replaces the bill. The amendment authorizes a health care professional to prescribe and dispense naloxone to a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose and a person who may be in a position to assist an individual during an opioid-related overdose. The amendment also authorizes a person who has received opioid overdose information to receive a prescription for and possess noloxane and administer naloxone to an individual who the person believes in good faith is experiencing an opioid-related overdose.