The American Medical Association is urging insurers to cover the cost of naloxone, through a prescription or over the counter, at low or no cost.
The FDA on March 29 approved the first over-the-counter naloxone product, Narcan nasal spray, which can reduce or reverse opioid overdoses.
"There are many over-the-counter preventive health medications that are covered by insurance, such as aspirin, vitamin D and fluoride," Bobby Mukkamala, MD, chair of the AMA's Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force, said in a statement. "Naloxone should be added to that list."
Emergent BioSolutions, Narcan's manufacturer, has yet to disclose how much it will charge for the over-the-counter version of the product, The Washington Post reported March 29.