HB 601 Summary

• Authorizes pharmacists, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants to administer drugs for addiction treatment (including long-acting opioid antagonists) by injection under physician prescription with an established patient relationship.

• Pharmacists administering addiction treatment drugs must complete a board-approved training course, maintain basic life-support certification, and practice under a physician-established protocol that includes treatment guidelines and adverse reaction procedures.

• Establishes a 30-patient limit for medication-assisted treatment providers unless they hold a category III terminal distributor license with office-based opioid treatment classification or are licensed community addiction service providers.

• Requires facilities providing office-based opioid treatment to more than 30 patients to obtain a category III terminal distributor license, with ownership restricted to physicians and criminal background checks required for owners and employees.

• Provides state board of pharmacy authority to issue licenses, adopt implementing rules, and impose fines up to $5,000 per day for violations.