Two senators are seeking legislation to help ensure that families know a relative had a nonfatal overdose in an attempt to get help.
Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., introduced the Saving Lives Through Proper Notification of Overdoses Act on Tuesday. It would ensure healthcare providers have clear guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services to inform a patient’s family about a nonfatal overdose to ensure that patient gets help.
“Those struggling with addiction are brought back from the brink of death in the emergency room, and then often released to battle their addiction alone and in secret,” Cassidy said. “We can save lives by ensuring doctors see something and say something when patients’ lives depend on it.”
The bill would require HHS to inform providers annually about what they can disclose to family members under federal privacy laws.
Many people die after overdosing multiple times and the family of the victim is not aware of the condition, according to a statement about the bill. Proper notification in accordance with privacy laws could give family members the ability to save a relative from a repeat overdose.
“In emergency situations, lack of notification and information sharing can freeze out family members who need to be there for a loved one,” Murphy said.
The legislation is the latest bill that Congress is considering to battle the opioid epidemic, which federal data says kills more than 100 Americans a day. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is considering about 70 bills, while the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee plans to take up a major opioid package next week.
