Massachusetts Orders Nursing Homes To Stock Naloxone To Reverse Opioid Overdose

In November 2016, Massachusetts regulators ordered nursing homes to stock naloxone, a drug to reverse opioid overdoses. The state also said nursing homes must ensure that staff are trained on caring for residents with opioid addiction disorder. For residents receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder, the state will require nursing homes to develop procedures for collaborating with opioid treatment programs (OTPs) for residents prescribed take-home methadone, and make arrangements with a physician able to prescribe buprenorphine to residents or administer extended release injectable naltrexone.

The orders were issued by the Department of Public Health (part of . . .