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2026 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Wachsmann
Eliminate Purchase Certain Dosage of Naloxone (language only)

Item 278 #1h

Item 278 #1h

Health and Human Resources
Department of Health

Language

Page 318, strike lines 18 and 19.



Explanation

(This amendment eliminates the requirement that the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) purchase and distribute eight milligram doses of naloxone nasal spray. Funding of $5.5 million each year is retained to purchase and distribute opioid reversal agents and test kits. The eight milligram naloxone nasal spray was once thought to be a better option for stronger opioids like illicitly manufactured fentanyl; however, more recent scientific literature does not consistently support any additional medical benefit of the eight-milligram spray over two doses of the four-milligram spray. In addition, eight-milligram naloxone spray carries a higher risk of causing severe withdrawal symptoms than the four-milligram spray. Elimination of the budget language would not prohibit VDH from procuring and distributing eight-milligram spray for eligible organizations that request it and would permit VDH additional flexibility in purchasing appropriate opioid antagonist products for community organizations, further reducing opioid overdose deaths in the Commonwealth. This is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.)