Washington State has a law, 2SSB 5195, “concerning prescribing opioid overdose reversal medication,” that went into effect on January 1, 2022. The law requires behavioral health agencies and hospitals to prescribe or distribute naloxone to patients at risk of opioid overdose.
Below is a list of materials and resources that may help your organization with the new law.
- Check out the WA Health Care Authority (HCA) website about the law. Includes the two HCA developed materials:
- Read the law: 2SSB 5195: Concerning prescribing opioid overdose reversal medication and Associated legislative documents
- Read a bulletin from the WA State Hospital Association: Distributing opioid overdose reversal medication in EDs and behavioral health settings – effective January 1, 2022
Laura Meader, MA, LICSW, is the Overdose Reversal Medication Program Director at the Health Care Authority, and will oversee implementation of the law. If you have questions about 2SSB 5195, or need technical assistance, please reach out to her, laura.meader@HCA.wa.gov.
Watch HCA’s Lunch and Learn series for behavioral health agencies: Distributing naloxone in behavioral health settings
The WA Health Care Authority, Public Health-Seattle & King County, and We Care Daily clinics will collaborate on a two-part lunch and learn series on the impact of Senate Bill 5195 on certified and licensed behavioral health agencies. Lunch and learn speakers will provide guidance on implementation, best practices, resources, and technical assistance support. This session is appropriate for all interested staff, leadership, and pharmacy partners.
- Implementation Overview of SB 5195 for WA Behavioral Health Agencies (part 1 of 2)
Webinar Recording | Slides - Clinical Considerations for WA Behavioral Health Agencies Implementing SB 5195 (part 2 of 2)
Webinar Recording (coming soon) | Slides
Order Overdose and MOUD Materials from the ADAI Clearinghouse
Opioid Overdose Brochure
- Available in hard copies and download: English, Chinese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.
- Download only: Amharic, Arabic, Farsi, French, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer / Cambodian, K’iche, Korean, Laotian, Marshallese, Oromo, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Ukrainian
Thanks to King County Department of Community and Human Services Behavioral Health and Recovery Division for the translation of the brochure!
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Brochure
English | Spanish
Methamphetamine Overdose Flyer
Long version: English | Spanish
Short version: English | Spanish
Good Samaritan Law Posters and Card
To order any of these brochures or flyers, send an email to adaiclr@uw.edu. Materials are available in packs of 50.
Other resources from Stopoverdose.org and Learnabouttreatment.org
The new law requires insurance to be billed for naloxone when possible. However, if your organization still needs naloxone for people who do not have insurance, you can apply to become a naloxone distribution program with the WA Department of Health Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program.
In November 2022, The Dept of Health released guidance via email clarifying eligibility for free naloxone for behavioral health agencies (BHAs) and opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
“The goal of both the Washington State Department of Health’s Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program and the 2SSB 5195 implementation effort is to ensure people at highest risk for witnessing and/or experiencing opioid overdose have naloxone in hand to save the lives of their peers, friends, and loved ones. The Department of Health and the Health Care Authority are working together to ensure this can be done in the most sustainable and impactful way.
BHAs or OTPs distributing low-barrier naloxone anonymously or without an eligible 2SSB 5195 encounter can continue to apply for naloxone through the OEND Program.
For 2SSB 5195 eligible encounters, BHAs and OTPs should seek reimbursement for naloxone. Eligible encounters under 2SSB 5195 include:
- Treatment for mental health or substance use disorder
- Withdrawal management, secure withdrawal management, evaluation and treatment
- Opioid treatment.”
For questions about this program, contact naloxoneprogram@doh.wa.gov