§ 17X — Coverage for prescribed, ordered or dispensed opioid antagonists; reimbursement

[ Text of section added by 2024, 285, Sec. 2 effective March 23, 2025.]Section 17X. (a) Coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission shall provide coverage for prescribed, ordered or dispensed opioid antagonists, as defined in section 19B of chapter 94C and used in the reversal of overdoses caused by opioids; provided, however, that the coverage for such prescribed, ordered or dispensed opioid antagonists shall not require prior authorization; and provided further, that a prescription from a health care practitioner shall not be required for coverage or reimbursement of opioid antagonists under this section. An opioid antagonist used in the reversal of overdoses caused by opioids shall not be subject to any deductible, coinsurance, copayments or out-of-pocket limits; provided, however, that cost-sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost-sharing for this service.(b) The commission shall provide coverage and reimbursement for an opioid antagonist used in the reversal of overdoses caused by opioids as a medical benefit when dispensed by the health care facility in which the opioid antagonist was prescribed or ordered and shall provide coverage as a pharmacy benefit for an opioid antagonist used in the reversal of overdoses caused by opioids dispensed by a pharmacist, including an opioid antagonist dispensed pursuant to section 19B of chapter 94C; provided, however, that the rate to be reimbursed under the medical benefit shall not exceed the commission's average in-network pharmacy benefit rate and the health care facility shall not balance bill the patient.