An Act Regarding the Dispensing of Naloxone Hydrochloride by Pharmacists (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1594
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: VACHON, MASON, CHACE, GIDEON, HEAD, HERBIG, HYMANSON, SYLVESTER, DILL, WOODSOME
Amends: 22 MRSA §2353, 32 MRSA §13815

Legislative Document
No. 1594
H.P. 1098
House of Representatives, May 11, 2017
An Act Regarding the Dispensing of Naloxone Hydrochloride by 
Pharmacists
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative VACHON of Scarborough.
Cosponsored by Senator MASON of Androscoggin and
Representatives: CHACE of Durham, Speaker GIDEON of Freeport, HEAD of Bethel, 
HERBIG of Belfast, HYMANSON of York, SYLVESTER of Portland, Senators: DILL of 
Penobscot, WOODSOME of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2353, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 508, §1, is 
amended to read: 
D.  "Pharmacist" means a pharmacist authorized to dispense naloxone hydrochloride 
pursuant to Title 32, section 13815 an individual licensed by this State to engage in 
the practice of pharmacy. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §2353, sub-§2, ¶¶A-1 and C-1, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 
508, §2, are amended to read: 
A-1.  A pharmacist may prescribe and dispense naloxone hydrochloride in 
accordance with protocols established under Title 32, section 13815 to an individual 
at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose. 
C-1.  A pharmacist may prescribe and dispense naloxone hydrochloride in 
accordance with protocols established under Title 32, section 13815 to a member of 
an individual's immediate family or a friend of the individual or to another person in a 
position to assist the individual if the individual is at risk of experiencing an 
opioid-related drug overdose. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §13815, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 508, §5, is amended to read: 
§13815.  Authorization 
The board by rule shall establish procedures and standards for authorizing 
pharmacists to prescribe and dispense naloxone hydrochloride in accordance with Title 
22, section 2353.  The rules must establish adequate training requirements and protocols 
for prescribing and dispensing naloxone hydrochloride by when there is no prescription 
drug order or, standing order or pursuant to a collaborative practice agreement 
authorizing naloxone hydrochloride to be dispensed to the intended recipient.  Rules 
adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.  A pharmacist authorized by the board pursuant to this section to 
prescribe and dispense naloxone hydrochloride may prescribe and dispense naloxone 
hydrochloride in accordance with Title 22, section 2353. 
Sec. 4.  Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause.  In the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 117, subchapter 11-A, in the subchapter 
headnote, the words "dispensing of naloxone hydrochloride" are amended to read 
"prescribing and dispensing of naloxone hydrochloride" and the Revisor of Statutes shall 
implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that a pharmacist may prescribe and dispense naloxone 
hydrochloride to an individual at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose or 
to a person in a position to assist such an individual.  Current law provides that a 
pharmacist may dispense naloxone hydrochloride to such an individual or person.  The 
bill also provides that the rules adopted by the Maine Board of Pharmacy authorizing 
pharmacists to prescribe and dispense naloxone hydrochloride must establish adequate 
training requirements and protocols for prescribing and dispensing naloxone 
hydrochloride when there is no prescription drug order, standing order or collaborative 
practice agreement authorizing naloxone hydrochloride to be dispensed to the intended 
recipient.