Open AccessAssociation Between a State Law Allowing Pharmacists to Dispense Naloxone Without a Prescription and Naloxone Dispensing Rates
Author(s) -
Neha S. Gangal,
Ana L. Hincapie,
Roman Jandarov,
Stacey M. Frede,
Jill Boone,
Neil J. MacKin,
Kathleen Koechlin,
Jolene DeFiore-Hyrmer,
Amy Holthusen,
Pamela C. Heaton
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
jama network open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.278
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2574-3805
DOI - 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20310
Subject(s) - (+) naloxone , medical prescription , medicine , medicaid , pharmacy , family medicine , emergency medicine , opioid , law , pharmacology , health care , receptor , political science
Key Points Question Is an Ohio law allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription in accordance with a physician-approved protocol associated with an increase in naloxone dispensing rates? Findings In this cohort study of patients in Ohio who received naloxone, the number of naloxone orders dispensed after the state law was implemented increased by 2328%, and the naloxone dispensing rate per month per county increased significantly in the Ohio Medicaid (4%) and Kroger Pharmacy (3%) populations. In the Ohio Medicaid population, the naloxone dispensing rate in low-employment counties increased by 18% compared with high-employment counties. Meaning The implementation of an Ohio law allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription was associated with a significant increase in naloxone dispensing rates, especially in low-employment counties.
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