Kentucky health insurers would be required to have abuse-deterrent opioid painkillers in their formulary under a bill that passed the state House Friday.
House Bill 330, sponsored by Rep. Addia Wuchner, R-Florence, and Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-Shively, is designed to encourage the prescribing and use of “abuse-deterrent” opioid analgesic drugs which Wuchner said cannot be crushed, snorted or injected by drug abusers as readily as other opioids can.
Opioid analgesic drugs include painkilling drugs like hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone.
“We know the heroin epidemic that we have, and we know we don’t begin by sticking a needle in our arm and injecting heroin. It often begins with the opioid medication that you find in the (medicine) cabinet,” said Wuchner, a registered nurse.
Approved by the FDA, Wuchner said abuse-deterrent opioids, or ADOs, would not be able to be substituted with another opioid if an ADO is what is prescribed. The ADO would also have to be covered by health insurance companies if prescribed.
Health insurers would be required under HB 330 to have one ADO in their formulary but would be encouraged to have two per an amendment to the bill approved by the House.
EMS death benefits bill goes to governor
A bill that would give families of emergency medical services personnel killed in the line of duty the same $80,000 state death benefit now provided to families of fallen police and firefighters is on its way to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 43, sponsored by Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, was filed following the death of Jessamine County paramedic John Mackey last November. Mackey was struck by a car while on ambulance duty.
The bill would provide an $80,000 death benefit to families of paramedics, emergency medical technicians, rescue squad members or any other emergency medical services personnel who are killed on the job on or after Nov. 1, 2015.
Rep. Russ Meyer, D-Nicholasville, presented SB 43 on the House floor for a vote. Surrounded by Mackey’s family and colleagues, Meyer the retroactive provision in the bill will allow Mackey’s family to be covered.
“On behalf of the John Mackey family … and Jessamine County, we thank everyone here in this body today,” said Meyer.
SB 43, which passed the Senate unanimously on Feb. 24, is similar to House Bill 54, sponsored by Rep. Dean Schamore, D-Hardinsburg, which passed the House unanimously earlier this session.
SB 43 passed the House 95-0 and now makes its way to the governor for his signature.
From LRC Public Information