Maryland Statutes

Article – Health – General§§13-3101-09

(S.B. 610, 2013, as codified)

§13–3101.

(a) Inthissubtitlethefollowingwordshavethemeaningsindicated.

(b) “Certificate”meansacertificateissuedbyaprivateorpublicentityto administernaloxone.

(c) “Private or public entity” means a health care provider, local health department,community–basedorganization,substanceabusetreatmentorganization, orotherpersonthataddressesmedicalorsocialissuesrelatedtodrugaddiction.

(d) “Program”meansanOverdoseResponseProgram.

§13–3102.

AnOverdoseResponseProgramisaprogramoverseenbytheDepartmentforthe purposeofprovidingameansofauthorizingcertainindividualstoadministernaloxone toanindividualexperiencing,orbelievedtobeexperiencing,opioidoverdosetohelp preventafatalitywhenmedicalservicesarenotimmediatelyavailable.

§13–3103.

(a) TheDepartmentshalladoptregulationsnecessaryfortheadministrationof theProgram.

(b) TheDepartmentmay:

(1) CollectfeesnecessaryfortheadministrationoftheProgram;

(2) Authorizeprivateorpublicentitiestoissueandrenewcertificatesto personsmeetingtherequirementsofthissubtitle;

(3) (i) Authorize privateorpublicentitiestoconducteducational trainingprogramsdescribedin§13–3104ofthissubtitle;and

(ii) Developguidanceregardingthecontentofeducationaltraining programsconductedbyprivateorpublicentities;and

(4) Collect and report data on the operation and results of the programs.

§13–3104.

(a) Toqualifyforacertificate,anindividualshallmeettherequirementsofthis section.

(b) Theapplicantshallbeatleast18yearsold.

(c) Theapplicantshallhave,orreasonablyexpecttohave,asaresultofthe individual’soccupationorvolunteer,family,orsocialstatus,theabilitytoassistan individualwhoisexperiencinganopioidoverdose.

(d) (1) Theapplicant shall successfully complete an educational training programofferedbyaprivateorpublicentityauthorizedbytheDepartment.

(2) Aneducationaltrainingprogramrequiredunderthissubsectionshall:

(i) Beconductedby:

1. AphysicianlicensedtopracticemedicineunderTitle14of theHealthOccupationsArticle;

2. Anursepractitionerlicensedtopracticeregisterednursing underTitle8oftheHealthOccupationsArticleandcertifiedasanursepractitionerby theStateBoardofNursing;or

3. Anemployeeoravolunteerofaprivateorpublicentitythat maintainsawrittenagreementwithasupervisoryphysicianornursepractitionerthat includes:

A. Proceduresforprovidingpatientoverdoseinformation;

B. Informationastohowtheemployeeorvolunteerproviding theinformationwillbetrained;and

C. Standards for documenting the provisionof patient overdoseinformationtopatients;and

(ii) Includetrainingin:

1. Therecognitionofthesymptomsofopioidoverdose;

2. Theproperadministrationofnaloxone;

3. The importance of contacting emergency medical services;

4. The care of anindividual after theadministrationofnaloxone; and

5. Any other topics required by the Department.

§13–3105.

Anapplicantforacertificateshallsubmitanapplicationtoaprivateorpublic entityauthorizedbytheDepartmentontheformthattheDepartmentrequires.

§13–3106.

(a)AprivateorpublicentityauthorizedbytheDepartmentshallissuea certificatetoanyapplicantwhomeetstherequirementsofthissubtitle.

(b) Eachcertificateshallinclude:

(1) Astatementthattheholderisauthorizedtoadministernaloxonein accordancewiththissubtitle;

(2) Thefullnameofthecertificateholder;and

(3) Aserialnumber.

(c) Areplacementcertificatemaybeissuedtoreplacealost,destroyed,or mutilatedcertificate.

(d)(1) Thecertificateshallbevalidfor2yearsandmayberenewed.

(2) Inordertorenewacertificate,thecertificateholdershall:

(i) Successfullycompletearefreshertrainingprogramconductedbyanauthorizedprivateorpublicentity;or

(ii) Demonstrateproficiencytotheprivateorpublicentityissuing certificatesunderthissubtitle.

§13–3107.

Anindividualwhoiscertifiedmay:

(1) Onpresentmentofacertificate,receivefromanyphysicianlicensedto practicemedicineintheState,oranynursepractitionerlicensedtopracticenursingin theState,aprescriptionfornaloxoneandthenecessarysuppliesfortheadministration ofnaloxone;

(2) Possess prescribed naloxone and thenecessarysupplies for the administrationofnaloxone;and

(3) Inanemergencysituationwhenmedicalservicesarenotimmediately available, administer naloxone toanindividual experiencingor believed by the certificateholdertobeexperiencinganopioidoverdose.

§13–3108.

Aphysicianornursepractitionermayprescribeanddispensenaloxonetoacertificateholder.

§13–3109.

(a) Acertificateholderwho,inaccordancewiththissubtitle,isadministering naloxonetoanindividualexperiencingorbelievedbythecertificateholdertobe experiencinganopioidoverdosemaynotbeconsideredtobepracticingmedicinefor thepurposesofTitle14oftheHealthOccupationsArticle.

(b) Aphysicianwhoprescribesordispensesnaloxonetoacertificateholder inamannerconsistentwiththeprotocolestablishedbytheauthorizedprivateor publicentitymaynotbesubjecttoanydisciplinaryactionunderTitle14oftheHealth OccupationsArticlesolelyfortheactofprescribingordispensingnaloxonetothe certificateholder.

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