2018-02-02 - Update
2018-02-02
An Important Issue for Maine Residents
Gideon on
Pharmacy Board Decision to Amend Rules on Narcan Dispensation
Gideon:
“We should do everything in our power to save every life
possible.”
AUGUSTA - Today, Chairman Joe Bruno and the
entire Maine Pharmacy Board finally took action on proposed rules related
to LD 1594, An Act Regarding the Dispensing of Naloxone Hydrochloride by
Pharmacists. At the request of Governor LePage, the Board amended the law
to raise the age the life-saving drug could be dispensed to 21, from 18 as
in the original rules.
Speaker Sara Gideon released the
following statement:
“Addiction knows no age. Overdoses can
strike at 18 or 19 or 29 or 54. And in every instance, at every age, we
should do everything in our power to save every life possible. What the
Board of Pharmacy did today has no basis in medical research or expert
opinion, it was merely a petulant action at the behest of Governor LePage
that directly contradicts legislative intent. While I’m grateful there
is finally some clarity regarding dispensation, I will continue my work to
ensure the Board of Pharmacy follows the
law.”
BACKGROUND:
Lawmakers initially approved making
naloxone available without a prescription in April 2016 (LD 1547, An Act
To Facilitate Access to Naloxone Hydrochloride). At the request of the
Board of Pharmacy, the Legislature clarified the language with an amended
bill with the intent that dispensation would begin soon after
rulemaking. LD 1594, An Act Regarding the Dispensing of Naloxone
Hydrochloride by Pharmacists, was passed by the Legislature in May of
2017.
The Maine Board of Pharmacy voted unanimously August 3,
2017 to approve rules related to LD 1594. Since then, the rules have been
stuck in uncertainty due a lack of action from the Executive Branch.
Speaker Gideon issued a joint letter with Senator Troy Jackson urging the
Board to take action on rules related to LD 1594, An Act Regarding the
Dispensing of Naloxone Hydrochloride by Pharmacists on January
27.
For me, this decision puts lives at risk.
Does one life matter more than another? How can we put these kinds of
decisions into practice wtih a good
conscience?
The week in
education
This week was taken in the hearing and
filing of several reports mandated by government review.
I’ve taken the liberty of placing the links to several of
those reports below.
- Veterans
Licensing
- Special
Education Cost Drivers
- 21'st
Century Economy and Workforce Development
- Municipal
Funding Reports
- Computer Science Task Force Report
- Opiod Task Force
Report
There is a running discussion within
the committee on the issues and merits of LD1761 - the bill to carry
guns in cars while in a school ground.
Although I can
clearly see that in Maine we live with guns, and that guns are an
important and often necessary part of our lives, I find this measure
faulty for several reasons.
We heard testimony that several
superintendents would be following local rules to automatically go into
“shutdown” mode when a gun was discovered on campus. First,
going into shutdown impacts the educative process., and that in and by
itself can be disruptive. Second, the emotional after effects of a
shutdown can further affect both students and teachers, But, third, and
most importantly, someone must accept the fiscal responsibility for
overseeing and solving the issues of the shutdown. It is those
fiscal reasons which can be concerning.
A further issue concerns
local response to the issues of guns on campus. The measure does not
outline the responsibility for supervision. Should the school hire a
guard to inspect every car or truck? If the school decides that it
is necessary to hire a guard, that fiscal note becomes
considerable.
Allowing guns on school grounds for whatever reason
is just not a good idea.
Schools in the state of Maine received
their “279’s” this week. Those are the forms coming from the
Department of Education regarding funding for next year. These
notifications are being impacted by last year’s legislation to increase
school funding.
Because every single school district and
community has individual needs, individual valuations, and individual
property tax formulas, a blanket statement is not possible. The
intention of the legislation was to push greater funds to those districts
least able to pay and those districts with the greatest educational needs.
Lewiston will receive additional funds. On the other
hand, Lewiston needs those funds to make sure its students have an
education that meets their needs.
House Calendars
Weekly Calendar of Legislative Events/Meetings
Bill
Text can be found using this link called Directory of
Bills
Bill
Text
Link to Bill Status
Bill Status
Events Calendars
Click this link ot see an events calendar - Events
Or, see the calendar in the side bar to the left.
As always feel
free to contact me with qustions or
observations.
On
Re-election - Lastly, and regretfully. I've decided not to
run for re-election to House District 59. I will throw all my
support behind the Honorable Margaret Craven, who has served in the
legislature and brings experience and wisdome and dedication to the
position.
