FL H0061

Requires each hospital with an emergency department to develop a best practices policy to promote prevention of unintentional drug overdoses.

Policy may include a process to obtain patient consent to notify next of kin and prescribing physicians about the overdose, location, and substances involved.

Authorizes policy to include provision of information about substance abuse treatment services, voluntary and involuntary admission procedures, and involuntary commitment procedures.

Permits policy to establish guidelines for emergency department practitioners to reduce risk of opioid use, misuse, and addiction when prescribing controlled substances.

Allows use of licensed or certified behavioral health professionals and peer specialists in emergency departments, and implementation of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment protocols.