Pharmacists are the key to increasing access to emergency opioid antagonists (EOAs) in communities. The state of Kansas allows pharmacists to dispense EOAs at their discretion to patients, family members and bystanders, law enforcement and EMS agencies, and school nurses, pursuant to a statewide protocol.
The statewide protocol to dispense EOAs is pharmacist-specific, not pharmacy-specific.
To become an emergency opioid antagonist (EOA) dispenser in the state of Kansas:
No authorizing physician is required.
This map includes all pharmacies in the state of Kansas with a staff pharmacist who has signed the statewide EOA protocol. If you believe your pharmacy should be listed on the map, submit your pharmacist's signed protocol to be included.
It's important to talk to both patients and caregivers about the benefits of emergency opioid antagonists (EOAs). If cost is an issue, explore options such as savings cards to help patients offset the cost of EOAs. Start with these tips:
Source: Adapted from Rhode Island Department of Health
The Kansas Pharmacy Foundation offers Naloxone Dispensing continuing education hours. Always check the current list of approved Pharmacist CE courses if you are seeking continuing education hours.
Pharmacists have the ultimate discretion to participate in this program, and the discretion to choose whether to dispense to each patient or bystander.
Pharmacists do not need to sign the EOA protocol to dispense valid EOA prescriptions. You may continue to do that in accordance with normal pharmacy practice standards.
There is no legal limit to how much EOA can be dispensed to one person. A pharmacist may exercise their discretion in limiting dispensing.
A signed copy of the protocol should be retained on paper or electronically in each location that a pharmacist dispenses EOAs and must be readily retrievable upon Board of Pharmacy inspection.
There is no additional education or training required for pharmacists to dispense EOAs.
Provide in-person counseling, training and written educational materials appropriate to the dosage dispensed, according to KAR 68-7-23 and outlined in the protocol.
The EOA protocol does not expire. If the Board of Pharmacy modifies it, all pharmacists will be notified. If a pharmacist wants to discontinue dispensing EOAs without a prescription, the pharmacist should notify the Board of Pharmacy.
Any pharmacist who, in good faith and with reasonable care, prescribes or dispenses an emergency opioid antagonist without a prescription shall not, by an act or omission, be subject to civil liability, criminal prosecution or any disciplinary or other adverse action by the Board of Pharmacy arising from the pharmacist dispensing the emergency opioid antagonist. Additionally, any bystander (including a pharmacist) who, in good faith and with reasonable care, administers an emergency opioid antagonist to a person experiencing a suspected opioid overdose shall not, by an act or omission, be subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution, unless personal injury results from the gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in the administration of the emergency opioid antagonist.