ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5052

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 8, 2021

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5052.

     This bill permits emergency medical responders to dispense opioid antidotes.

     Current law allows a prescriber or other health care practitioner to prescribe or dispense an opioid antidote through a standing order to any professional who is deemed by the health care practitioner to employ professionals who are capable of dispensing opioid antidotes to recipients, for administration thereby, as part of the entity's regular course of business or volunteer activities.  Emergency medical responders are permitted to administer opioid antidotes to overdose victims in the course of their professional duties, but are not otherwise authorized to dispense opioid antidotes to people who may be in a position to render assistance to an overdose victim.

     The bill grants emergency medical responders and emergency medical response entities the authority to dispense opioid antidotes under the same requirements that apply to professionals and professional entities, including the requirement to furnish the individual with overdose prevention information.

     Current law provides that a professional or professional entity dispensing opioid antidotes, in good faith, for future administration by the recipient, will be immune from civil and criminal liability and adverse disciplinary action in connection with dispensing the opioid antidote.  The bill will extend these immunity provisions to include emergency medical responders and emergency medical response entities dispensing opioid antidotes, in good faith, under the bill.