Hospitals - Opioid Overdose and Opioid-Related Emergency Medical Conditions - Treatment

This Maryland law requires hospitals to create specific protocols for treating patients suffering from opioid overdoses or related emergency conditions. Under the new rules, hospitals must have the capacity to provide and administer approved medications for opioid use disorder and offer evidence-based interventions to reduce the risk of future harm before discharging patients. Additionally, the bill mandates that hospitals refer patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder to community providers for voluntary ongoing treatment and connect them with peer support professionals. To help hospitals implement these requirements, the state will use funds from the Opioid Restitution Fund to provide necessary training and resources.