88R15230 MPF-D     By: Talarico H.B. No. 4799       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the provision of opioid antagonists to clients on   discharge from a chemical dependency treatment facility.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 464, Health and Safety   Code, is amended by adding Sections 464.021 and 464.0211 to read as   follows:          Sec. 464.021.  PROVISION OF OPIOID ANTAGONISTS. (a) In this   section, "opioid antagonist" and "opioid-related drug overdose"   have the meanings assigned by Section 483.101, Health and Safety   Code.           (b)  In a state fiscal year during which a treatment facility   licensed under this chapter receives state money by legislative   appropriation made for chemical dependency treatment or a similar   public purpose, or in which state money is otherwise made available   for the facility's use in providing chemical dependency treatment,   the facility must provide opioid antagonists to a client the   facility reasonably believes to be at risk for an opioid-related   drug overdose before discharging the client from the facility.          Sec. 464.0211.  PRESCRIPTION OF OPIOID ANTAGONISTS.  (a)  A   physician or person who has been delegated prescriptive authority   under Chapter 157, Occupations Code, may prescribe opioid   antagonists in the name of a treatment facility licensed under this   chapter.          (b)  A physician or other person who prescribes opioid   antagonists under Subsection (a) shall provide the treatment   facility with a standing order for the administration of an opioid   antagonist to a person reasonably believed to be experiencing an   opioid-related drug overdose.          (c)  The standing order under Subsection (b) is not required   to be patient-specific, and the opioid antagonist may be   administered to a person without a previously established   physician-patient relationship.          (d)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,   supervision or delegation by a physician is considered adequate if   the physician:                (1)  periodically reviews the order; and                (2)  is available through direct telecommunication as   needed for consultation, assistance, and direction.          (e)  An order issued under this section must contain:                (1)  the name and signature of the prescribing   physician or other person;                (2)  the name of the treatment facility to which the   order is issued;                (3)  the quantity of opioid antagonists to be obtained   and maintained under the order; and                (4)  the date of issue.          (f)  A pharmacist may dispense an opioid antagonist to a   treatment facility without requiring the name or any other   identifying information relating to the user.          SECTION 2.  Section 464.021, Health and Safety Code, as   added by this Act, applies only to a client who is discharged from a   chemical dependency treatment facility on or after the effective   date of this Act. A client who is discharged from a facility before   that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before the   effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.