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Or Don’t

“BE PREPARED. GET NALOXONE. SAVE A LIFE.” So advised the U.S. Surgeon General. The drug can be used to rescue someone overdosing on opioids, but a Boston, Mass., addiction treatment nurse says two life insurers turned her down for coverage because she had a prescription for the drug in her records. That “prescription” was a standing order by Dr. Alex Walley, the medical director of a state program; anyone in Massachusetts can use it. One of the insurers that rejected the nurse said she could apply again if she got a doctor’s note, so she did. It’s one of seven Dr. Walley has written for employees at Boston Medical Center, where he and the nurse both work. “My biggest concern is that people will be discouraged by this from going to get a naloxone rescue kit at the pharmacy,” Walley said. (AC/WBUR Boston) ...Which means more people will die of overdoses, which may not be great news for life insurance companies.