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Community Naloxone Program (CNP)

The CNP allows many eligible programs to obtain naloxone through the State Office of Pharmacy (SOPS)

Purpose

The goal of the CNP is to prevent death from opioid overdose by increasing distribution of free naloxone to community bystanders across Massachusetts.  Organizations that qualify for CNP can order naloxone at a partial or full subsidy directly from the State Office of Pharmacy Services (SOPS), depending on preference.  All affiliate programs are expected to provide counseling on overdose prevention and training on overdose response to all persons who receive CNP-obtained naloxone. CNP-obtained naloxone is not to be billed to a patient’s insurance. For first responders such as EMS, CNP-obtained naloxone is not to supplant the naloxone supply available for patient administration on overdose calls for service.

Program Requirements and Eligibility

  1. Application to the CNP is open to the following entities:
    1. Local health departments
    2. Health and Human Services programs serving people at risk for opioid overdose and/or their social networks
    3. Housing & homelessness providers
    4. Drop-in centers or other community spaces available to people who use drugs and their networks
    5. Family advocacy and support groups
    6. BSAS licensed and/or contracted SUD treatment programs
    7. EMS Naloxone Leave-Behind Programs
    8. Co-Response/ Jail Diversion/ Crisis Intervention Teams/ Post Overdose Support Teams
    9. Criminal justice services (including but not limited to court, corrections, probation, and parole)
    10. Municipalities and health departments
  2. Affiliate programs must comply with all Massachusetts General Laws and regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) in accordance with 105 CMR 700.00 
  1. Affiliate programs must establish written protocols and procedures to ensure that individuals receiving naloxone kits are properly trained. Training must meet minimum standards outlined at 105 CMR 700.00 
  1. Naloxone purchased through this mechanism must:  
    1. Be provided to all recipients at no cost; AND 
    2. Not be submitted to any recipient’s insurance for reimbursement; AND 
    3. Not be administered to an individual by affiliate program staff in the event of an overdose response, if the affiliate program is a hospital, hospital-affiliated clinic/department, or Emergency Medical Services agency.
  2. Affiliate programs must designate one staff member as the CNP Coordinator. This person will be the main point of contact with MDPH and will take responsibility for required program activities and documentation, and data tracking and reporting. Programs must notify MDPH promptly of any program personnel changes in a timely manner.   
  3. Affiliate programs must provide MDPH with all locations where naloxone purchased through this mechanism is being delivered and stored. Programs must notify MDPH promptly of any location changes in a timely manner. 
  1. Affiliate programs must track and report data to MDPH. The frequency of reporting will be determined by the type of subsidy the affiliate program is awarded, which will be communicated by MDPH to the approved affiliate program. Reports to MDPH will include, but may not be limited to, the following metrics: 
    1. Number of naloxone doses distributed 
    2. Number of persons trained 
    3. Number of overdose reversals reported back to programs 

Apply

To apply to become a CNP affiliate program, please fill out the online application. For questions about applying for CNP, please contact Ben Plant at Benjamin.plant@mass.gov.

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