FRANKFORT, KY -—Kentucky’s community pharmacies would play a bigger role in the state’s fight against opioid addiction under legislation that has passed the state House.
House Bill 246, sponsored by pharmacist and State Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, and Rep. Addia Wuchner, R-Florence, would create a pilot program to gauge the effectiveness of a community pharmacy care delivery model for dispensing of non-controlled medication assisted therapy for those with opioid use disorder, or OUD, under approved protocols.
The pilot program would be implemented by the state, as funds are available, “to determine practices that increase access to treatment, reduce frequency of relapse” and help to control costs. Counties or populations chosen to participate in the program would be designated by the state.
“Successful completion of the pilot project will demonstrate the impact of the community pharmacy practice model,” said Bentley, adding that HB 246 would be “a model for Kentucky and maybe a model for the United States.”
Pharmacist and State Rep. Robert Goforth, R-East Bernstadt, said HB 246 would allow the state to build on existing regulations that authorize pharmacists to dispense non-controlled medication like naltrexone under approved protocols.
Goforth said barriers to access to long-acting naltrexone and a lack of reimbursement now keep community pharmacists from participating in naltrexone-based medication assisted therapy programs.
“Pharmacists are highly-educated health care professionals with unparalleled accessibility and can play a larger role in addressing this significant public health issue” involving opioid addiction, he said.
HB 246 passed the House on a vote of 90-0. It now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
