Governor declares heroin and opioid epidemic a statewide disaster emergency

Jan. 11--WILKES-BARRE -- Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday issued the first-ever public health disaster declaration that he said will enhance the state response to the opioid epidemic.

Wolf's declaration is designed to increase access to treatment and save lives.

The declaration is the first-of-its-kind for a public health emergency in Pennsylvania and will utilize a command center at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to track progress and enhance coordination.

"While we have made progress in combating the heroin and opioid abuse crisis and drastically expanded Pennsylvania's response, we are still losing far too many Pennsylvanians," Wolf said in a news release. "I am taking this step to protect Pennsylvanians from this looming public health crisis, and I am using every tool at my disposal to get those suffering from substance use disorders into treatment, save more lives, and improve response coordination."

Among the declaration's specifics are 13 key initiatives that are the culmination of a collaboration between state agencies.

They include:

--Establishing an Opioid Command Center at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, which will house the Unified Opioid Coordination Group that will meet weekly to monitor implementation and progress of the initiatives in the declaration.

--Expanding access to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to other state entities for clinical decision-making purposes to improve treatment outcomes and better monitor compliance among prescribers. Since 2016, 90,000 physicians have conducted more than 1 million searches on the PDMP.

--Adding overdoses and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) as reportable conditions to the Department of Health to increase data collection and improve outcomes in both areas.

--Authorizing an emergency purchase to allow the state to enter into a contract with the current drug and alcohol hotline vendor to ensure uninterrupted services. To date, the 24/7 helpline -- 1-800-662-HELP -- has received more than 18,000 calls to connect those suffering with substance abuse with treatment.

--Enabling emergency medical providers to leave behind naloxone by amending the current standing order to include dispensing by first responders, including EMTs.

The existing naloxone standing order and funding for naloxone to first responders has allowed for more than 5,000 lives to be saved, the release says.

--Allowing pharmacists to partner with other organizations to increase access to naloxone by waiving regulations.

--Waiving the face-to-face physician requirement for Narcotic Treatment Program admissions to allow initial intake review by a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) or Physician Assistant (PA) to expedite initial intakes and streamline coordination of care when an individual is most in need of immediate attention.

--Expanding access to medication-assisted treatment by waiving regulatory provisions. This will allow more people to receive necessary treatments at the same location, increasing their access to care and chances for recovery.

--Waiving annual licensing requirements for high-performing drug and alcohol treatment facilities to allow for a licensure process every two years.

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