Jun. 24, 2019
Bill would track use of Narcan and Naloxone in state database
HARRISBURG – The state House today approved legislation introduced by Rep. Jim Cox (R-Berks/Lancaster) that would help health care professionals identify and treat patients who previously overdosed on opioids.
“We want doctors to have the information they need to correctly diagnose and treat people who abuse opioids,” Cox said. “This information can mean the difference between life and death.”
Cox’s bill would require first responders and hospital personnel to record the use of Narcan, Naloxone or any other opioid overdose agent in the patient’s record in a state database.
Narcan and Naloxone are medications designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.
Pennsylvania in 2014 enacted a law creating a state database to track opioid prescriptions. Cox’s bill would ensure the use of Narcan and Naloxone would show up on a patient’s record in that database.
“If a doctor doesn’t know about a patient’s history with medications like Narcan and Naloxone, they may not be able to provide the best care for that patient,” Cox said. “Our goal is to save lives and provide people with the best care to help them get better.”
House Bill 1005 now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
More information about Cox is available on his website at
RepJimCox.com or by following him on Facebook at
Facebook/RepJimCox.
Representative Jim Cox
129th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Daniel Massing
717.772.9845
dmassing@pahousegop.com
RepJimCox.com /
Facebook.com/RepJimCox