Bill
HD 1660
Overview: HD 1660, An Act authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, proposed bill, introduced November 29, 2025.Purpose and Intent: This legislation aims to
Overview: HD 1660, An Act authorizing pharmacists to provide opioid use disorder treatment, proposed bill, introduced November 29, 2025.
Purpose and Intent: This legislation aims to expand access to opioid use disorder treatment by allowing licensed pharmacists to prescribe and dispense certain medications, such as buprenorphine, for the treatment of opioid addiction. The bill recognizes the need to address the ongoing opioid crisis and the potential for pharmacists to play a greater role in providing evidence-based treatment.
Key Provisions:
- Authorizes pharmacists to obtain a waiver from the federal government to prescribe and dispense buprenorphine and other FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder treatment
- Requires pharmacists to complete additional training in addiction medicine and to coordinate with patients' primary care providers
- Establishes new reporting requirements for pharmacists providing opioid use disorder treatment to the state's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- Provides liability protections for pharmacists who prescribe and dispense opioid use disorder medications in good faith
Affected Parties and Impacts:
- Individuals with opioid use disorder will have increased access to treatment options through their local pharmacies
- Pharmacists will need to obtain the necessary federal waivers and complete additional training to provide opioid use disorder treatment
- Primary care providers may need to adjust their care coordination practices to work more closely with pharmacists
Procedural and Timeline Considerations:
The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery for further consideration. If passed, the new pharmacist prescribing authority would take effect 9 months after the bill's enactment to allow time for the development of training programs and coordination with federal regulatory agencies.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
