HANDS Act

The HANDS Act requires Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE to cover naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug) with no out-of-pocket costs when distributed by hospitals to patients identified as at-risk for overdose. It applies to individuals receiving care in hospital emergency departments, inpatient settings, or ambulatory surgical centers, specifically at the time of discharge or when leaving the facility. The bill mandates that providers must determine a patient's overdose risk before distributing naloxone, along with administration instructions. This policy change eliminates cost-sharing barriers for this specific naloxone distribution method, aiming to increase access for vulnerable patients.