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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 10, 2020 02:07 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Anthony H. Williams |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Prohibiting Insurance Discrimination for Naloxone (Lloyd’s Law) |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to prohibit insurance discrimination against family members and other Good Samaritans who obtain the life-saving drug naloxone to reverse opioid overdose. Together with my colleague in the House, Representative Margo Davidson, this legislation will be named Lloyd’s Law to honor our constituent Lloyd Andrew White of Lansdowne. Prior to Lloyd losing his battle to addiction, his mother Sharon obtained two doses of naloxone from her local Walgreens to have on hand in case of overdose. That critical healthcare decision was used against her by a life insurance company to deny her a $50,000 policy – a mistake by the insurer of associating her purchase of the drug with the abuse of opioids. While she was eventually able to obtain coverage from another company, no parent should be punished for buying life-saving medicine for their children. In April of 2018, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams advised members of the public to obtain naloxone in an effort to ensure that the overdose reversal drug is on hand to combat the deadly effects of the growing epidemic. This effort has certainly saved lives, and citizens who choose to carry naloxone to revive family members, friends or even strangers should be free of unintended consequences. This legislation would prohibit insurers from imposing penalties – including denial of coverage, premium increases, or limiting coverage – based on a consumer’s purchase of naloxone. The only exception permitted will be if the insurer can provide clear and convincing evidence that the insured is engaged in illicit drug use. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. Questions or concerns may be addressed to my Harrisburg office at 717-787-5970. Thank you. |