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SB 401

Health: pharmaceuticals; co-prescribing of naloxone with opioid drugs; require. Amends sec. 17744b of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.17744b).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Hertel and 1 co-sponsor

Michigan requires healthcare providers to co-prescribe naloxone with opioid medications to reduce overdose deaths through medication access.

referred to Committee on Insurance
#health:pharmaceuticals #health:substanceusedisordertreatment
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Bill Summary · SB 401

Legislative bill overview

SB 401 requires that naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) be co-prescribed alongside opioid medications in Michigan. The bill amends the Michigan Public Health Code to establish this as a standard prescribing practice for healthcare providers dispensing opioid drugs.

Why is this important

Opioid overdose deaths remain a significant public health crisis; naloxone co-prescribing is an evidence-based harm reduction strategy that can prevent fatal overdoses. By making naloxone readily available to patients taking opioids, the bill aims to reduce overdose mortality while addressing concerns about medication access and patient safety.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Physicians and pharmacists may face administrative complexity determining when co-prescribing is appropriate, and concerns about increased workload without clear clinical guidelines
  • Cost and insurance coverage: Unclear whether insurers must cover co-prescribed naloxone, potentially creating out-of-pocket expenses that could deter patients from filling prescriptions
  • Scope limitations: The bill may not address patients already on chronic opioid therapy or non-opioid pain management alternatives, potentially leaving coverage gaps in overdose prevention efforts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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