Rep. Frances Head sponsors bill to recoup naloxone costs

AUGUSTA — A bill introduced in the Legislature would make people who receive repeat doses of a life-saving opiate overdose antidote pay for it.

Gov. Paul LePage’s bill, sponsored by Rep. Frances Head, R-Bethel, would make municipalities, counties and contracted first responders recoup the costs of administering naloxone or other opiate overdose antidotes from those who are given it.

Last year, LePage faced stiff criticism after vetoing a bill to expand access to naloxone, but the Legislature overrode it.

LePage’s bill will be referenced to a legislative committee on Tuesday alongside a bill that would make all mandated reporters contact the state if they know or suspect a child was exposed to drugs or alcohol before birth.

Injectable and nasal forms of Naloxone, which can be used to block the potentially fatal effects of an opioid overdose, are shown Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at an outpatient pharmacy at the University of Washington.