Budget Amendment ID: FY2020-S3-574-R1

Redraft EHS 574

Harm Reduction through Syringe Access

Messrs. Cyr, Moore and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after item XXXX-XXXX the following item:-

“XXXX-XXXX  For the department of public health to coordinate a comprehensive statewide strategy, in partnership with municipalities, public health harm reduction organizations and  other stakeholders, to promote existing commonwealth harm reduction efforts, to foster a culture of harm reduction and to promote community-based harm reduction services as recommended by the harm reduction commission established in section 100 of chapter 208 of the acts of 2018; provided further, that not less $1,500,000 shall be made available to increase the availability of sterile and safe injection equipment and syringe disposal services; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for a pilot program to provide access to fentanyl testing strips or other drug checking equipment; provided further, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended to increase the availability of nasal naloxone rescue kits prior to discharge from an acute care hospital emergency department or satellite emergency facility after treatment for an opioid overdose; provided further, that not later than September 1, 2019, the division of insurance and the office of Medicaid shall convene and consult with a group of carriers and providers regarding how to fund, by July 1, 2020, the cost of distribution of nasal naloxone rescue kits prior to discharge from an acute care hospital emergency department or satellite emergency facility after treatment for an opioid overdose; and provided further, that money shall be expended to promote pilot programming to advance the creation of new supportive places for treatment and related observation that offer medical monitoring, nasal naloxone rescue kit distribution, counseling and connection to primary care, behavioral health and addiction treatment services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000,000

Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Fund ………………………  100%”.