Naloxone Dispensing Information for Pharmacies

Naloxone is a safe medication that can reverse the effects of opioids. Pharmacists who dispense naloxone can play a critical role in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdose in New York City.

The New York State Department of Health has issued a statewide non-patient specific prescription or standing order. This authorizes all pharmacists and supervised pharmacy interns to dispense naloxone to anyone who requests it, without a patient-specific prescription.

Pharmacy Dispending Information

Pharmacies must visit the New York State Quarterly Reporting Naloxone Dispensing and Public Directory Portal to submit updated contact information, and Quarterly Dispensing Reports.

For more information or questions about the statewide standing order, quarterly reporting, or the public directory, email naloxonepharmacy@health.ny.gov.

For specific questions related to naloxone and pharmacies in New York City, email pharmacynaloxone@health.nyc.gov.

Requirements for Participating Pharmacies

To dispense naloxone under the standing order, you must:

Dispensing

The following naloxone formulations may be dispensed under this standing order:

  • Nasal naloxone with each single-dose spray containing 4 mg in a 0.1mL solution, to be dispensed in units of 2 doses. Current applicable product National Drug Codes (NDCs) include:
    • 69547-353 (Emergent Devices)
    • 0781-7176 (Sandoz)
    • 0093-2165 (Teva)
    • 45802-811 (Padagis)
  • Injectable naloxone in single-use 1 mL vials with a strength of 0.4 mg/mL to be dispensed in units of 2 vials accompanied by an intramuscular syringe for each vial. Current applicable product NDCs include:
    • 0409-1215 (Hospira)
    • 67457-292, 67457-599 and 06457-645 (Mylan)

In addition to the products specifically enumerated above, other naloxone formulations may be dispensed under this standing order so long as they have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are identical to one of the listed formulations in strength, dose volume, route of administration and pharmacologic action.

Reporting

All naloxone dispensing must be documented consistent with applicable laws and regulations and with standard pharmacy practice. NYSDOH provides a template to track dispensing on a quarterly basis, here: NYS Naloxone Pharmacy Data Upload.

Naloxone Dispensing under this standing order must be reported on a quarterly basis to the New York State Department of Health using the following link: NYS Naloxone Pharmacy Data Upload.

The timeframes for this reporting are three-month periods, with reports provided to the Department no later than 4 weeks after the end of each quarter.

  • Quarter 1: January 1-March 31 – DUE: April 30
  • Quarter 2: April 1 – June 30 – DUE: July 31
  • Quarter 3: July 1 – September 30 – DUE: October 31
  • Quarter 4: October 1 – December 31 – DUE: January 31

If your pharmacy has reporting questions, email naloxonepharmacy@health.nyc.gov.

Billing

Many insurance plans cover naloxone. Consider insurance coverage and patient preference when dispensing.

The Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP) is a State program that covers up to $40 of a patient’s co-pay for naloxone if they have prescription coverage. To bill under N-CAP, the pharmacy must be enrolled in the New York State AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

Patients who cannot afford naloxone and are not eligible to use N-CAP can call 311 or visit the naloxone page for information on where to get naloxone in NYC at no cost.

Additional Resources

More Information