Senate Bill No. 365 establishes a bridge program for emergency treatment and recovery navigation for individuals with opioid use disorder, set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The bill mandates that hospitals administer buprenorphine or methadone to patients presenting with symptoms of opioid use disorder in their emergency departments without requiring admission solely for this purpose, provided that the administration is clinically indicated and the patient consents. Additionally, hospitals are required to offer patients a prescription or supply of an opioid antagonist, such as Narcan, upon discharge, and to refer them to local treatment programs or community providers. If buprenorphine is administered, hospitals must provide a bridging prescription for the patient to use while awaiting treatment, and if methadone is administered, a last-dose letter must be given to the patient.

The bill includes specific definitions for terms such as "bridging prescription," "buprenorphine," "methadone," and "opioid antagonist," among others. It also clarifies that the provisions do not mandate the administration of medications when contraindicated, do not limit the professional judgment of clinicians, and do not preclude the use of other medications for opioid use disorder when appropriate. The effective date for the new provisions is set for October 1, 2026, with the aim of improving access to treatment for individuals struggling with opioid addiction.