CVS Health said the company will further expand its ongoing efforts to educate patients about, and increase access to, the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone consistent with the Surgeon General's Advisory on Naloxone and Opioid Overdose, issued by Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome M. Adams.
"Each day we lose 115 Americans to an opioid overdose – that's one person every 12.5 minutes," said Surgeon General Adams. "It is time to make sure more people have access to this lifesaving medication, because 77 percent of opioid overdose deaths occur outside of a medical setting and more than half occur at home."
Over the coming months, CVS Pharmacy will expand patient education and awareness efforts about the importance of naloxone, particularly for at-risk individuals, consistent with the Surgeon General's Advisory. The company also announced that CVS Pharmacy will accept and automatically apply a coupon for Narcan nasal spray for patients without insurance. The resulting out of pocket cost of $94.99 is the lowest net price available on the market for patients without insurance. Narcan nasal spray is the only FDA approved nasal administration of naloxone.
"CVS Health is dedicated to preventing and addressing opioid abuse in the communities we serve," said Thomas G. Davis, R.Ph., Vice President, Professional Services, CVS Pharmacy. "We are proud to support the Advisory issued by Surgeon General Adams by enhancing our ongoing efforts to educate patients about the life-saving importance of naloxone. We are also pleased to work with Adapt Pharmaceuticals to provide a coupon for Narcan nasal spray to CVS Pharmacy patients without insurance and we appreciate their partnership."