New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has called on the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) to launch an investigation into reports that some nurses have been denied life insurance coverage for carrying opioid overdose reversal medications such as Naloxone or Narcan.
“Nurses are on the front line of our state's fight to combat the opioid epidemic, and it is unacceptable that life insurance providers would deny these hard-working health professionals coverage for common sense precautions they take to help save lives,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. “New York State will always stand up for our nurses and do all we can to support their work to keep New Yorkers healthy and safe,” Governor Cuomo continued, adding that he was “calling on the Department of Financial Services to launch an investigation and take appropriate steps to ensure no nurse in New York State is being unfairly denied the life insurance coverage that they deserve.”
The governor encouraged nurses who have been denied coverage to contact the DFS via its consumer complaint website or to call (212) 480-6400 or toll-free (800) 342-3736 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that is used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, namely slowed or stopped breathing. Many nurses obtain naloxone without a patient-specific prescription, fearing encounters with drug users and patients outside of a typical medical setting.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].