BOSTON, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — On Monday, Governor Healey signed a new substance use disorder bill to support those in recovery by making it more affordable and accessible in the hopes of reducing drug-related deaths. The legislation expands access to opioid reversal medication and ensures they are covered by health insurance.

“Over the course of my career, I’ve been motivated by those who have tragically lost loved ones to the opioid crisis that is impacting all of our communities. Their stories have served as important reminders of the urgent need to increase treatment, prevention and recovery services to save lives,” said Governor Healey. “I’m proud to sign this bill that will expand access to lifesaving overdose reversal medications and coaching throughout the recovery process. I’m grateful to our partners in the Legislature for their leadership in making sure Massachusetts continues to be a national leader in the fight against the opioid crisis.”

Key provisions from the bill include:

  • Mandates that insurance providers cover opioid reversal drugs and expands access. This bill mandates that all health plans cover emergency opioid antagonists (EOAs) — opioid reversal drugs such as naloxone and Narcan — without cost-sharing or prior authorization. It also requires hospitals and treatment facilities to educate patients on EOAs and prescribe or dispense at least two doses of EOAs to patients with a history of overdose, opioid use, or opioid use disorder (OUD) upon discharge.
  • Prohibits life insurance limits or refusal based on EOA history. This legislation prohibits life insurance companies from limiting or refusing coverage to a person solely because they obtained an EOA for themselves or others.
  • Updates insurance requirements for non-opioid pain treatment. The bill updates requirements for insurance providers to ensure adequate coverage and access to pain management services without prior authorization, including non-opioid alternatives to pain treatment.
  • Mandates insurance coverage for recovery coaches. The bill mandates all health plans cover recovery coach services without cost-sharing or prior authorization at no less than MassHealth rates, regardless of the setting in which the services are provided.
  • Establishes recovery coaching licensure. This legislation establishes recovery coach licensing and oversight within DPH and codifies the practice of recovery coaching to ensure qualifications, proper use of titles, and compliance with DPH regulations. It also directs BSAS to study and report on barriers to certification, credentialing, and other employment and practice requirements for recovery coaches, while also ensuring timely and standardized licensure and renewal processes and establishing a peer support program for recovery coaches and their employers that includes mentorship, technical assistance, and other resources.
  • Creates protections for harm reduction measures, which establishes a criminal and civil liability protections for people who, in good faith, provide or utilize fentanyl test strips or other drug testing equipment.
  • Updates policy for infants affected by prenatal substance exposure.  The bill mandates a collaborative approach to conducting comprehensive assessments of how substance use may affect parental capacity and infant safety, prioritizing family unity and access to appropriate support systems. A parent who is stable in recovery will no longer automatically require a report for abuse or neglect.