Substitute House Bill No. 5291, Public Act No. 24-120, is an act concerning the Department of Public Health's recommendations regarding improved opioid monitoring. The bill mandates that from January 1, 2025, until August 31, 2028, hospitals licensed under chapter 368v that treat patients for nonfatal opioid overdoses must, with the patient's consent and if medically appropriate, administer a toxicology screening. This screening will test for various substances, including opiates, opioids, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, methadone, cocaine, gabapentin, xylazine, and any other substance deemed appropriate by the commissioner. The results of these screenings are to be reported to the Department of Public Health in a prescribed form and manner.

Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner to report annually to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly on matters related to public health regarding the toxicology screening results. This report, which will be submitted starting January 1, 2026, and annually until January 1, 2029, must include an analysis of trends, benefits experienced by patients, and a recommendation on whether toxicology screening reporting should continue after August 31, 2028. The bill also updates the confidentiality clause to ensure that data reported to the Department of Public Health remains confidential, changing the subsection designation from (d) to (e) to accommodate the new provisions. The act is effective from October 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 105:
Public Act No. 24-120: