Insurance coverage and consistent pricing is needed for over-the-counter naloxone

Blake Fagan; Delesha Carpenter; Grace Marley

doi:10.5055/jom.0892

Authors

Blake Fagan, MD
Delesha Carpenter, PhD, MSPH
Grace Marley, PharmD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7507-0631

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.0892

Keywords:

naloxone, naloxone nasal spray

Abstract

With the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray in 2023, it was expected that access to naloxone nasal spray would increase and that its cost would be reduced. However, the writers of this commentary found varying insurance coverage of naloxone during purchase attempts at local pharmacies. Failure to cover naloxone can reduce access and increase risk of overdose death. We suggest federal policy implementation that requires universal insurance coverage of at least one formulation of naloxone and to utilize national opioid settlement funds to pay for naloxone nasal spray to ensure equitable access to this lifesaving medication.

Author Biographies

Blake Fagan, MD

Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill; Physician, Mountain Area Health Education Center, Asheville, North Carolina

Delesha Carpenter, PhD, MSPH

Professor, Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Grace Marley, PharmD

Assistant Professor, Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill; South East Area Health Education Center, College of Nursing, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina

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